NEW YORK, NY December 04, 2007 —Governor Spitzer has taken a step toward fulfilling a campaign pledge of making sure all New Yorkers have health insurance. WNYC’s Fred Mogul has more.

The state has awarded a contract to a public policy think tank to develop a plan for achieving universal health coverage. The Washington-based Urban Institute will analyze soon-to-be made internal proposals by the state Health and Insurance departments.

Those departments have been examining policies and proposals of other states; interviewing consumer groups, healthcare providers, insurers, experts, and elected officials; and conducting hearings around New York over the last three months.

The eighth and final of those hearings on universal health coverage will be conducted tomorrow at SUNY College at Old Westbury. For WNYC, I’m Fred Mogul.