Bill > A00841

This bill amends the elder law to give the commissioner of health more flexibility in determining income eligibility for the Program for Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC). Specifically, the bill allows the commissioner to adopt policies that exclude certain non-recurring income items that could artificially inflate an applicant's apparent financial resources. Examples of such non-recurring items include previous year's wages and one-time distributions from individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The bill modifies the definition of "income" for EPIC program eligibility, which is currently based on the "household gross income" definition from the real property tax circuit breaker credit program. By allowing the exclusion of these potentially misleading income sources, the bill aims to provide a more accurate assessment of an elderly applicant's current financial situation when determining program eligibility. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A841