Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Deane Beebe, Medicare Rights Center, 212-204-6219
Margi Trapani, CIDNY, 646-442-4154
PJ Weiner, National MS Society, NYC Chapter, 212-453-3238November 29, 2007
Governor Spitzer Urged to Expand New York State's Pharmaceutical Assistance Program to New Yorkers with Severe Disabilities Millions of Dollars in New York State Savings from Medicare Drug Benefit Should Go Toward EPIC Expansion, Advocates Advise Spitzer in Campaign Launched Today New York, NY -Health and social service advocates are calling on Governor Eliot Spitzer to broaden the eligibility criteria for New York State's pharmaceutical assistance program, to allow New Yorkers with severe disabilities who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and meet the program's income requirements to participate.
"At this time of year, most New Yorkers are deciding how many great gifts they want to buy," says Susan Dooha, Executive Director of the Center for Independence of the Disabled (CIDNY), New York. "Our clients are deciding which medications they can do without because they've hit the Medicare Part D donut hole."
New York's Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage Program (EPIC) is open only to residents who are 65+ who meet the program's annual income requirements ($35,000 or less if single, $50,000 or less if married). At least 15 other states, including New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts, have implemented pharmaceutical assistance programs that cover adults below age 65 with disabilities.
"When the Medicare drug benefit fails - and it fails often - EPIC is a critical safety net but only for elderly New Yorkers," said Robert M. Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center, a national consumer service group. "New Yorkers with severe disabilities are shut out of EPIC and can't get the needed relief that this lifesaving program provides."
About 414,000 of the 2.8 million New Yorkers with Medicare are under 65 and have Medicare, the federal government health coverage program, because they are severely disabled and have demonstrated that they are unable to perform significant work for at least a year due to disability and have had a specific level of recent earnings prior to becoming disabled. Advocates are also urging that EPIC eligibility also be extended to New Yorkers who get SSDI but are still in the two-year Medicare waiting period.
Not all New Yorkers under age 65 with severe disabilities who have Medicare, or SSDI only, would qualify for EPIC because they have Medicaid or incomes above EPIC's eligibility criteria.
After the Medicare outpatient drug benefit was implemented in 2006, EPIC phased in a requirement that most participants enroll in a Medicare Part D private drug plan. This requirement has saved New York State $120 million in 2006 and another $143 in 2007, according to EPIC officials.
Today, Mark Scherzer, legislative counsel for New Yorkers for Accessible Health Coverage (NYFAHC), a coalition of more than 50 statewide voluntary health and social service organizations, is testifying in Brooklyn at a New York State Budget Department public hearing for input on Governor Spitzer's 2007-2008 budget.
NYFAHC is urging Governor Spitzer to use the EPIC savings from Medicare Part D to expand EPIC eligibility to New Yorkers receiving SSDI. NYFAHC is also launching a letter writing campaign to the Governor. (A complete list of organizations affiliated with NYFAHC is available below.)
About 360,000 New Yorkers aged 65+ are currently participating in EPIC. EPIC works with Medicare Part D drug coverage by reducing drug plan premiums, deductibles and co-payments; covering drugs not on Medicare private drug plans' formularies; covering restricted drugs; and filling in the major coverage gap known as the "doughnut hole."
"EPIC was created so that seniors would not have to choose between buying food and buying their prescription medications, but people under 65 receiving SSDI still have to make that heart wrenching decision," said PJ Weiner, Manager, Advocacy Programs at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, New York City Chapter. "EPIC works and it's time that it's expanded to people with disabilities."
New Yorkers for Accessible Health Coverage (NYFAHC), a statewide coalition of over fifty organizations representing people with serious chronic illnesses and disabilities, leads the way to affordable, accessible, comprehensive, and high quality health insurance.
NYFAHC Member Organizations
Action League for Lyme
ACT UP/New York
American Association of Kidney Patients, New York Chapter
American Cancer Society
American Diabetes Association
Body Positive Image
Cancer Care
Care for the Homeless
The Center for the Independence of the Disabled, NY
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Greater New York Chapter
Disabled In Action of Metropolitan New York
Huntington's Disease Society of America, New York and Long Island chapters
Interagency Council of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, New York City Chapter
Long Island Association for AIDS Care
Mental Health Association of New York City
Mental Health Association of Westchester County
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill-New York State
National Aphasia Association
National Association of People with AIDS
National Marfan Association
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Capital, Long Island, New York City, Southern, and Upstate chapters
National Transplant Support Network
New York AIDS Coalition
Sickle Cell Advocates for Research and Empowerment
Share: Self-Help for Women with Breast and Ovarian Cancers
SLE Foundation
West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition for Long Island
Cooperating Organizations
Alliance of Resident Theaters of New York
Brooklynwide Interagency Council of the Aging
Citizen Action of New York
Commission on the Public's Health System
Community Healthcare Network
Dance Theatre Workshop
Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition
Institute for Puerto Rican and Hispanic Elderly
Joint Public Affairs Committee for Older Adults
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
Long Island Progressive Coalition
Medicare Rights Center
Metro New York Health Care for All Campaign
National Association of Social Workers, New York City Chapter
New York State Health Care Campaign
New York State Psychological Association
New York Statewide Senior Action Council Senior Services
Society for Hospital Social Work Directors, Metropolitan New York chapter
South Fork Community Health Initiative
William F. Ryan Community Health Center