Big Bang in NY for 'Little Program' in Health Reform
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January 18, 2010
NEW YORK - For New York seniors and people with disabilities, it's a small program buried within the Senate's health reform plan, a program that helps those new to poverty apply for social service programs to keep them healthy, fed and living at home. New York is one of ten states working with the National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment, which would be funded by the program in the Senate plan.
Susan Dooha, executive director of the Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York, says this outreach is critical right now, because the recession keeps driving more people into poverty, who have no idea how to access benefits.
"Already this program has allowed us, just in the last few months, to help 5,000 New Yorkers and bring them more than a million dollars in actual benefits that they can use every day."
Section 3306 of the Senate health care reform bill includes $5 million to continue to fund the National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment.
Dooha says New York saves money when people are able to stay in their homes, but many who are older or have disabilities need help finding and applying for that assistance.
"So many people are new to poverty, and they don't know how to go about applying for and getting help with heating, help with food, income assistance, help with prescription drug discounts, and so much more."
Dooha says the program provides online tools that her organization and others use to match people with social safety net programs. If the funding is approved, the program is expected to expand to 13 more states.
A recent poll indicates that 69 percent of Americans believe it's somewhat likely a health reform bill will pass, while 57 percent fear it will lead to higher costs. That Rasmussen National Telephone Poll was released January 11, 2010.