COMMITTEE ON SENIORS
MINUTES: APRIL 18, 2005
MEMBERS: CHAIR: Bernice Spreckman; LEGISLATORS: Jose Alvarado, Lois Bronz, Martin Rogowsky, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Vito Pinto
IN ATTENDANCE: VARIOUS SENIORS GROUPS: Joe Mangelli, Daniel Sambol, Anita Persise, Glbert Gorges, Ann Gorges, Rose Loughlin, Reva Greenberg, Laura Bolotsky, Mary DeSilva, Harry Spreckman, Tony Scatola, Terry Scatola, Lucy Monteleone, Phyllis Plonski, Mae Carpenter, Roberto Nascimento, Judy Fink, Dozene Giushard, J.D. Sullivan, Margaret Ann Capriolo, Ela Hathaway, Lani Sanjek; STAFF: Sally Schecter
The meeting was called to order at 10:40 a.m. by Chair Bernice Spreckman.
On the motion of Vito Pinto and seconded by Lois Bronz, the minutes of March 21st were accepted.
The meeting centered on the trip to Albany. There will be three buses leaving on May 4 – one from Yonkers, one from White Plains and one from Mt. Vernon.
Lani Sanjek gave an overview of what is happening in Albany. Even though the budget has been passed, it is still a work in progress as the Legislators are still negotiating. EPIC is up in the air as there are negotiations between the state and federal government. Part D has many problems. If people don’t know the plan, they will enroll and then don’t know if it is any good.
The Assembly has passed a resolution on the privatization issue of Social Security to send to the federal government and they are trying to get a Senate sponsor but the Republican delegation is critical of it.
There is a growing number of uninsured in New York State. There was a Universal Health Care Bill that was passed many years ago. A Universal Health Care Commission is looking into healthcare coverage in New York State. The Assembly has set aside $500,000 and they would like the commission to be bi-partisan.
With Medicaid, EPIC is an issue. Assemblyman Jeff Klein is introducing a bill to raise the income to $50,000 for individuals and $75,000 for couples.
The Family Health Care Decisions Act – there is no law as to who can make a decision if there is no health care proxy. When there is no proxy, who is responsible.
The Health Committee, Chaired by Legislator Stewart-Cousins and Seniors, Chaired by Legislator Spreckman, will meet and prepare a resolution on both EPIC – to preserve the program as it exists and Social Security – not to privatize it, so it can be presented to the Board for the April 25th meeting.
On the motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Pinto, the meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.
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