Some might say the quest to provide health care for all uninsured New Yorkers smacks of the Greek myth of Sisyphus, who pushes a rock over and over again up a hill, only to have it roll back down at the crest. But the Business and Labor Coalition of New York — BALCONY —is pressing on, shoulder to the stone.

Earlier this month, the coalition presented "Seven Principles of Affordable Health Care" at a state forum in Glens Falls, one of many held by the Spitzer administration to solicit input on health reform.

Coalition Co-chairman Alan Lubin, NYSUT's executive vice president, said BALCONY is calling upon the Congress to overturn President Bush's "burdensome rules."

Earlier this year, New York's Assembly and Senate approved an increase in eligibility for a public program for those without health insurance.

Created by the federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the State Children's Health Insurance Program is designed to help states insure more children. It helps fund states to provide health care coverage to "targeted low-income children" who are not eligible for Medicaid and are uninsured.

New York wants to allow children with family incomes of 400 percent of the federal poverty level — about $68,680 for a family of three. 

Those plans are being stymied, however, by new requirements from the Bush administration that states cannot expand programs until they have enrolled at least 95 percent of children from families earning below 200 percent of the poverty level. 

New York has not reached that level, which Lubin says is unachievable. At the forum, he announced that BALCONY is commissioning research papers on the impact of the uninsured on regional economies and the cost of providing affordable health care on the state budget.

BALCONY is joining other groups, including the American Cancer Society, to host forums around the state on affordable health care, including one in Westchester County, Nov. 16.

It's a call to action. Lubin said, "A nationwide solution will only come about more rapidly if pressure bubbles up from the individual states."

To that end, BALCONY introduced its "Seven Principles for Affordable Health Care."

• Universality — All New Yorkers should have some kind of health insurance, and individuals with pre-existing conditions should not be excluded.

• Affordability — Health care must be affordable to small business and self-employed people on par with coverage offered through large corporations and government.

• Administrative simplicity — Simplify insurance regulations and government tax codes.

• Adequacy — Patients need adequate care for primary, chronic, acute and preventive conditions.

• Efficiency — Bulk drug purchasing by the state, adoption of an electronic medical records system and uniform processing forms would keep costs lower.

• Quality — Quality must be maintained.

• Eliminate disparities — Unify the system and remove discriminatory health care practices.