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New York State Office for the Aging (SOFA) |
Adjusted Executive Legislative
Approp. Request Approp.
2000-01 2001-02 2001-02 Change
STATE OPERATIONS
General Fund 2,922,000 3,096,000 3,096,000 0
Special Rev.-Fed. 10,787,000 10,150,000 10,150,000 0
Fiduciary 953,000 500,000 500,000 0
Enterprise 200,000 200,000 200,000 0
Total for
STATE OPERATIONS: 14,862,000 13,946,000 13,946,000 0
AID TO LOCALITIES
General Fund 76,133,102 64,400,000 86,196,000 21,796,000
Special Rev.-Fed. 95,600,000 101,600,000 101,600,000 0
Fiduciary 3,100,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 0
Total for
AID TO LOCALITIES: 174,833,102 168,000,000 189,796,000 21,796,000
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Agency Mission 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 more than 3,200,000 State residents who are age 60 years or older. The mission of SOFA is to help older New Yorkers remain as independent as possible for as long as possible through effective advocacy, policies, and programs, and the efficient delivery of services directed toward this population. Year-to-Year Change The Executive recommends a total All Funds appropriation of $181,946,000, a net decrease of $7,749,102 or 4.09 percent. The Executive recommends a General Fund/State Operations appropriation of $3,096,000, an increase of $174,000 or 5.95 percent, resulting from salary increases and nonpersonal service inflation adjustments within the Agency. The Executive recommends a General Fund/Aid to Localities decrease of $11,733,102, or 15.41 percent, reflecting the elimination of most legislative initiatives and enhancements contained in the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2000-01 enacted State budget. Legislative Proposals In recognition of the swelling number of New Yorkers over age 60 and the many new problems and concerns this population now faces, the Assembly proposes an additional $21,796,000 for programs serving New York's senior citizens. These funds support programs serving both the frail and the well elderly. The Assembly recognizes that many seniors in New York State that are both eligible and in-need are not receiving desired community-based services. The Assembly also recognizes that when elderly individuals are unable to access these services, they are often forced to utilize more costly services such as Medicaid. In line with this realization, the Assembly provides for a $2,000,000 increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Assembly also proposes the addition of $1,500,000 for the Community Services for the Elderly Program (CSE) to enhance the $1,500,000 added by the Executive. Another program helping to keep the frail elderly in the community is the Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP). The Assembly proposes an addition of $2,000,000 for this worthy senior program. In addition, the Assembly proposes an increase of $300,000 for Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC), a program that encourages elderly citizens to remain in their homes and in the community. The Assembly also recognizes how important it is for families to be able to keep elderly relatives in the community as long as possible. Not only do services that meet this objective serve worthy social goals, but they also provide fiscal savings insofar as they offer less expensive alternatives to more-costly institutional care. Chapter 685 of the Laws of 1996 enacted the Social Model Adult Day Services Program. This Act authorized the State Office for the Aging to make grants available to providers of social model adult day care programs. These programs enable families, with an elderly relative who should not be left unattended, to work during the day while the relative receives the care and supervision he or she needs. These programs also provide the elderly relative with an opportunity for social interaction while affording the caregivers needed respite. For the first time in SFY 2000-01, the enacted State budget contains an independent appropriation of $1,000,000 for this purpose. In July 2000, SOFA received over 95 funding proposals in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) for this $1,000,000; only 18 grants were ultimately awarded. Despite this overwhelming need, the Executive did not continue this $1,000,000 appropriation in the proposed 2001-02 budget. In recognition of this need, the Assembly proposes the restoration of $1,000,000 and an additional $5,000,000 for social model adult day services programs. The Assembly also proposes additional funding of $1,400,000 for the Respite Program to restore funding for current programs left unfunded in the Governor's proposal, as well as providing for the expansion of services at these sites. The Assembly also supports funding for the well-elderly. The Assembly proposes an additional $2,000,000, an increase of $1,500,000 above the current year, for the Congregate Services Initiative (CSI) which provides the elderly with services that promote their physical and mental well-being in congregate settings, such as senior centers. The Assembly proposes $500,000 for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program in recognition of the fact that the rights of elderly nursing home residents need to be safeguarded. Also in keeping with the goal of protecting the rights of elderly citizens, the Assembly proposes $200,000 for Elder Abuse and Outreach Services. The Assembly recognizes that less than half of those eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) receive SSI funds. In order to address this problem, the Assembly provides $371,000 for the SSI Outreach Program to help connect potentially eligible persons with the SSI Program. The Assembly further recognizes that transportation services for the elderly is an unmet need in New York State. Many senior citizens rely on transportation services to get to doctors' appointments, community meals, and adult day care services. In some areas of the State, seniors have been placed on waiting lists for transportation services. To address this need, the Assembly proposes $500,000 in new funding to defray operating costs for senior citizen transportation services. As part of the reauthorization of the Federal Older Americans Act, New York State will be eligible to receive $7,600,000 in additional Federal funding for caregiver support programs. Local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) would be able to use this new funding to provide information to caregivers on the types of supportive services available within the community and to provide assistance in gaining those necessary supportive services. Funding can also be used to provide individual counseling and training to caregivers, respite care, as well as other supplemental services necessary to assist caregivers in the community. As authorized by federal law, the National Family Support Caregiver Program requires a 25 percent non-federal match; however, no State monies for this match were provided for in the Executive's SFY 2001-02 proposed budget. The Assembly recognizes that without State funding many Local AAAs will not be able to provide the 25 percent match needed to leverage the new federal funds, resulting in a loss of needed federal dollars that could assist family caregivers at the local level. Therefore, the Assembly proposes a General Fund appropriation of $2,500,000 to support the full non-federal share of this new federal initiative. Currently, approximately 2.4 million persons who are 65 years of age or older reside in New York State. This number is expected to increase dramatically in future years as the "baby-boomer" population reaches 65 years. As the number increases, so will the demand for social services for this population with limited workers to supply these services. To meet this concern, the Assembly proposes $75,000 for an aging project to address the workforce crisis involving insufficient numbers of geriatric social workers. Additionally, the Assembly proposes the restoration of $750,000 for the Senior Citizen Center Renovation Program and $100,000 in new funding for the Intergenerational Day Care Program. The Assembly also proposes $1,600,000 for aging programs that were eliminated in the Executive's SFY 2001-02 proposed budget that provide access to patients rights information, elder abuse services, and other programs generally serving the needs of the elderly population. The Assembly proposes to make the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Supportive Service (NORCS) Program permanent, rather than extending the program for two years, until December 31, 2003, as recommended by the Executive. Other Assembly proposals of interest to the senior community, although not administered by the State Office for the Aging, are changes to the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Program. The Assembly rejects the Governor's proposal to lower pharmacy reimbursement from 95 percent of the Average Wholesale Price (AWP) to 90 percent of the Average Wholesale Price. The Assembly further rejects the Governor's proposal to apply the Consumer Price Index (CPI) methodology used in Medicaid to EPIC rebates to mirror the Medicaid program. The Assembly accepts, with modifications, the Governor's proposal to require private health insurers to match membership files with the EPIC program to facilitate a coordination of benefits. In addition, the Assembly proposes new language to EPIC to allow recipients to continue to be eligible for the program even if a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) in their pensions or social security benefits causes them to exceed eligibility limits.
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