BILL NUMBER: S8760A
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the elder law, in relation to the automatic identifica-
tion and enrollment of elderly pharmaceutical insurance coverage program
enrollees in the home energy assistance program
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to data match the Home Energy Assistance
Program (HEAP) with the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage
Program (EPIC).
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends the elder law to add a new section 245 to provide for
the automated identification of EPIC participants for HEAP.
Section two establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The implementation of a file-matching strategy aligning the Home Energy
Assistance Program (HEAP) with the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance
Coverage Program (EPIC) is a crucial step in addressing New York's
senior energy affordability challenge.
In the spring of 2019, the New York State Energy Research & Development
Authority (NYSERDA) released a report by Columbia University entitled
Increasing Senior Participation in New York's Home Energy Assistance
Program. A key finding of the report is that "while one million senior
households in New York were eligible for HEAP in 2017, under 400 thou-
sand (or 39%) participated in the program." The report noted that "the
gap indicates that vulnerable senior households are underserved by the
program, and because eligibility and enrollment in HEAP can lead to
enrollment in other energy efficiency and assistance programs, it is
likely that seniors are underserved by these programs as well."
The report underscored the gap between HEAP participation by income-eli-
gible older households and the number of eligible households with older
members statewide. The proposed file-matching approach utilizing the
EPIC database serves as a targeted solution to automatically enroll
eligible seniors into HEAP, thereby improving participation rates.
Unaffordable energy rates undoubtably can compel many of these house-
holds to make challenging household budget decisions. The proposed file-
matching approach not only addresses the immediate concerns of seniors'
struggling with energy costs but also provides a lifeline to those
facing difficult trade-offs.
By leveraging the EPIC database, which already identifies low-to-modera-
teincome seniors, New York can streamline the HEAP enrollment process.
This approach not only reduces administrative costs but also ensures
that vulnerable senior households, who are currently underserved,
receive the necessary financial assistance for heating costs. The
streamlined process would enable the state to tap into a previously
untapped pool of potential HEAP recipients, significantly increasing the
program's reach and impact. Close to two-thirds of EPIC enrollees could
be eligible for HEAP benefits.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: A.9369 referred to aging
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.