File #: Res 0823-2007    Version: Name: Make certain persons who are eligible for or receiving social security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits eligible for Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program. (S.2644 and A.5178)
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Disability Services
On agenda: 4/23/2007
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to adopt S. 2644 and A. 5178, legislation which would make certain persons who are eligible for or receiving social security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits eligible for the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program.
Sponsors: G. Oliver Koppell, Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., Gale A. Brewer, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Inez E. Dickens, Simcha Felder, Lewis A. Fidler, Helen D. Foster, Vincent J. Gentile, Sara M. Gonzalez, Letitia James, John C. Liu, Michael C. Nelson, Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., James Sanders, Jr., Larry B. Seabrook, David I. Weprin, Thomas White, Jr., Alan J. Gerson, Robert Jackson, James F. Gennaro, Tony Avella, Hiram Monserrate, Helen Sears, Betsy Gotbaum
Council Member Sponsors: 26
Attachments: 1. Res. No. 823 - 4/23/07, 2. Committee Report 10/24/07, 3. Hearing Testimony 10/24/07, 4. Press Release, 5. Committee Report 10/29/07, 6. Hearing Transcript 10/29/07, 7. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 10/29/07
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
10/29/2007*G. Oliver Koppell City Council Approved, by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
10/29/2007*G. Oliver Koppell Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Disability Services Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
10/29/2007*G. Oliver Koppell Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Disability Services Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
10/29/2007*G. Oliver Koppell Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Disability Services Amended by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
10/29/2007AG. Oliver Koppell Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Disability Services Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
10/24/2007*G. Oliver Koppell Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Disability Services Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
10/24/2007*G. Oliver Koppell Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Disability Services Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
10/24/2007*G. Oliver Koppell Committee on Mental Health, Developmental Disability, Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Disability Services Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/23/2007*G. Oliver Koppell City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/23/2007*G. Oliver Koppell City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Res. No. 823-A

 

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to adopt S. 2644 and A. 5178, legislation which would make certain persons who are eligible for or receiving social security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits eligible for the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program.

 

By Council Members Koppell, Addabbo Jr., Brewer, Comrie, Dickens, Felder, Fidler, Foster, Gentile, Gonzalez, James, Liu, Nelson, Recchia Jr., Sanders Jr., Seabrook, Weprin, White Jr., Gerson, Jackson, Gennaro, Avella, Monserrate, Sears and The Public Advocate (Ms. Gotbaum)

 

                     Whereas, The Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program, which offers prescription drug assistance to seniors, has proven helpful to many senior citizens who face high costs for pharmaceuticals, but who do not qualify for Medicaid; and

                     Whereas, In recent years, many programs originally designed to benefit senior citizens, including Social Security and real property tax reductions, have been extended to cover persons with disabilities; and

                     Whereas, S. 2644 and A. 5178 have been introduced in the New York State Legislature to allow certain individuals with disabilities who are eligible for or who receive social security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits to be eligible for the EPIC program; and

Whereas, This legislation recognizes that through no fault of their own, persons with disabilities may experience limitations on their ability to independently earn a living, similar to restrictions experienced by elderly citizens; and

                     Whereas, Faced with severe income limitations, declining availability of employer-paid health insurance and caps on prescription coverage which are increasingly being implemented by health insurers, many individuals with disabilities are finding themselves unable to afford pharmaceuticals which may be essential to their health; and

Whereas, In addition to helping individuals with disabilities maintain their health, advances in pharmaceuticals have also enhanced their quality of life by helping them remain active in their community; and

                     Whereas By extending the EPIC program to include low-income individuals with disabilities, S. 2644 and A. 5178 would follow precedents set by other programs which began by serving the needs of the elderly, but were later expanded or used as models to provide similar services to individuals with disabilities; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to adopt S. 2644 and A. 5178, legislation which would make certain persons who are eligible for or receiving social security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits eligible for the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program.

 

 

 

SO/MB

LS #2717

10/25/07