2004 Yellow Book
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OFFICE FOR THE AGING (Summary)
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Adjusted
Appropriation
2003-04 		Executive
Request
2004-05 		Change Percent
Change

AGENCY SUMMARY

General Fund 66,953,945 66,115,300 (838,645) -1.3%
Special Revenue-Other 1,250,000 1,250,000 0 0.0%
Special Revenue-Federal 115,350,000 116,350,000 1,000,000 0.9%
Enterprise 100,000 100,000 0 0.0%

Total for AGENCY SUMMARY: 183,653,945 183,815,300 161,355 0.1%

 
ALL FUNDS PERSONNEL
BUDGETED FILL LEVELS
Fund Current
2003-04 		Requested
2004-05 		Change

General Fund: 33 29 (4)
All Other Funds: 98 106 8

TOTAL: 131 135 4
Budget Highlights

The New York State Office for the Aging (SOFA) is the State agency designated with the responsibility of coordinating and administering Federal, State, and local programs and services for the 3.2 million State residents who are sixty years of age or older. The mission of SOFA is to help older New Yorkers remain as independent as possible through effective advocacy efforts, policies, and programs, as well as through the efficient delivery of services directed toward this population.

This agency is included in the Health and Mental Hygiene appropriation bill.

The Executive recommends an All Funds appropriation of $183,815,300, a net increase of $161,355, or 0.1 percent, which is primarily due to an increase in Special Revenue Funds -- Federal Aid to Localities appropriations, offset by a decrease in General Fund Aid to Localities appropriations.

State Operations

The Executive recommends a total State Operations General Fund appropriation of $2,241,000, a decrease of $50,000, or 2.2 percent, from State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2003-04.

In order to maximize efficiencies, the Executive proposes to initiate a host agency relationship with the Department of Health (DOH) and have DOH assume all of the office’s human resource activities. This action would result in a General Fund State Operations reduction of $50,000 in personal service, associated with the attrition of one position in SFY 2004-05, within the Administration and Grants Management Program.

Aid To Localities

The Executive recommends a total Aid to Localities General Fund appropriation of $63,874,300, a decrease of $788,645, or 1.2 percent from SFY 2003-04. This decrease results from the reduction of various Community Services Programs.

The Executive proposes a reduction of $202,215 to the Community Services for the Elderly (CSE) Program, a program that provides community-based, supportive services to frail, low-income elderly who need assistance in order to maintain their independence at home. The Executive also proposes a reduction of $528,030 to the Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP), a program that provides in-home, non-medical care for the frail elderly who are not eligible for Medicaid. Furthermore, the Executive proposes a reduction of $58,400 to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, a program that safeguards the rights of elderly and disabled nursing home and adult home residents.

The Executive proposes to increase, by $1,000,000, the Aid to Localities Special Revenue Funds-Federal appropriation associated with additional federal funds for caregiver resource programs.

Although not administered by the State Office for the Aging, the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Program is of special interest to the senior community. The Executive recommends various cost savings initiatives to the EPIC Program in SFY 2004-05. These changes, which are expected to achieve savings of $60,000,000 for the EPIC Program include:

  • a savings of $22,600,000 due to a reduction in the drug reimbursement rate for all pharmacies participating in the EPIC program from the Average Wholesale Price (AWP) minus 12 percent to the AWP minus 15 percent for brand name drugs;

  • a savings of $7,400,000 due to a reduction in the drug reimbursement rate for all pharmacies participating in the EPIC program from the AWP minus 12 percent to the AWP minus 30 percent for generic drugs; and

  • a savings of $30,000 as a result of an authorization by the DOH to waive existing participant fees for low-income EPIC enrollees under 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to encourage these enrollees to obtain the new Medicare Interim Discount Drug Card.

In addition, the Executive proposes to implement a Preferred Drug Program in EPIC in SFY 2006-07. While the Governor provides Article VII legislation to authorize such a Program, the legislation itself does not specify the SFY 2006- 07 implementation date; at this time it is merely Executive intent.

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