Hunger Action Network of New York State

2. Fax in your Memo of Support for the Prescription Drug Bulk Purchasing bill

Please fax in TODAY to Sen. Bruno a Memo in Support of the bill to show the overwhelming support for this vital legislation! Below is a sample memo or support you can cut & paste from. Sen. Bruno’s fax: (518) 455-2448

A Memo in Support of Prescription Drug Bulk Purchasing:
A.6336b (Gottfried)/ S. 5029 (Golden)

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to creating the prescription drug assistance program.

There are 5 million New Yorkers who can not meet their prescription drug needs because they are either uninsured or have insurance that does not provide adequate prescription drug coverage. Many even forgoing medically necessary drugs when prices are out of reach. Meanwhile, the federal government uses its buying power to negotiate fairer prices for the drugs it purchases for certain populations it is responsible for – such as veterans, government employees and retirees.

US consumers pay more for drugs for consumers than in any country in the world, and the expenditure has been going up 10 to 15% annually. In 2004, New Yorkers spent over $19.4 billion on prescription drugs.

This bill would lower costs by creating the Prescription Drug Assistance Program, pooling the purchasing power of state programs like Medicaid and EIP, public employee benefit programs, employers and uninsured individuals. The program would also create an Rx Discount card that would be available to any New Yorkers who do not have prescription drug coverage or who have gaps in their plans.

A prescription drug assistance board would be established in the executive department to administer the program, facilitate access to cheaper drugs for program participants, and negotiate bulk discounts from pharmaceutical companies.

This is not the first time that the bulk purchasing of medicine has been used. The federal government does it for veterans, and 33 states have bulk purchasing programs of one form or another either by executive order or state law or resolution. Other states have saved billions by enacting innovative plans to counteract ever increasing prescription drug costs and there is no reason why New York shouldn’t see the same gains.

Hunger Action Network of New York State (insert your name or your organization’s name) supports A. 6336 and S. 5029 because it lessens the burden placed on millions of New Yorkers who make hard decisions every day on how they are going to provide for their basic needs. Paying for sometimes life-saving medication means one has less money to pay for food and shelter

New York can once again be at the forefront of healthcare by taking the bulk purchasing step

3. Call Governor Pataki Today to Urge that he Release the Remaining TANF Funds

In April, the Governor vetoed many of the restorations and increases to programs passed by the Legislature. Recently he announced that though he was releasing over a billion dollars in TANF funds, about $90 million for vital services was not released. The funds not being released include pregnancy prevention ($12.1 million), after-school programs ($27.5 million), aid for the homeless ($4 million), support for residents of single-room-occupancy hotels ($3.5 million) cash for the Utica Food Bank ($150,000) and many work-support programs for low-income people.

Simply dial toll-free: 1-877-255-9417 and press 1 to leave a message for the Governors Office - you can leave a message with the receptionist and she will log in your call (all you have to provide is your zip code).

Message: “I urge the Governor to agree to the Legislature’s bi-partisan conference committee agreement which would release the remaining $90 million of TANF funds. These funds support essential services such as aid for the homeless, adult literacy and ESL, and helping low-income New Yorkers find and keep jobs.”

4. SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM, Food That’s In When School Is Out!

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) offers free meals to children 18 years of age and younger during the summer months. The program is a great resource of nutritious food for all children. There are no income or residency requirements for children to participate. However, there are many children who are not benefiting from the program. Please encourage the children in your community to participate! To locate a site in your community or for further information, please contact the NYS Growing Up Healthy Hotline toll-free at 1-800-522-5006 and 311 for NYC.
5. Make a contribution to Hunger Action Network while shopping

GreaterGood.com, Inc. makes it free and easy to support good causes through everyday Internet use. Internet users can shop at over 100 leading online merchants – including Barnes&Noble.com, Gateway, PETsMART.com, Office Deport, Brookstone, priceline, ebay, Lands' End, Dell, Office Max, and more -- and up to 15% of each purchase automatically goes to Hunger Action Network at no extra cost to you. THANKS for your support. Just go to our home page at www.hungeractionnys.org or click this link http://www.greatergood.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/GreaterGood.woa/wa/shoppingVillage?svid=hannys.