Albany Restores Funding For EPIC Program

Albany, NY - Funding for a program designed to help seniors with low to moderate income pay for their prescription drug costs, has been restored. The Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Program will get a boost of 30.6 million to help qualifying seniors cap the amount they have to pay for their prescription medicine.

According to officials, seniors are currently paying as much as 25-percent for their prescription costs not covered by Medicaid. Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, who fought for the restoration, says the move is a critical one because the EPIC Program is in place to help some of the most vulnerable citizens of our community. "Albany should be working to make life less taxing. Especially for seniors, many of whom are living on a fixed income. This was the right decision to make," he said. The new funding will cap the cost of each prescription between $3 and $20. Brindisi says the change will go into effect in January 2013.

The assemblyman is also encouraging those interesting in learning more about the program to contact his district office at (315) 732-1055. Also, he says his staff stands ready to assist seniors enroll in the program.