March/April, 2004 Dandelion Connection

THE DANDELION CONNECTION
Ellicott Square Building., 295 Main Street Room 495, Buffalo, New York 14203
(716) 847-0655 ext. 402 www.nls.org

In this issue:
Free Medication for Low-Income Clients
Who Represents me?
Special Investigations (SID)

Do you need prescription medicine but don't have insurance? There is a program available that can help!! The Pharmacy Assistance Program (PAP) out of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul works to provide help for those who need prescription medications but can't afford them.

St. Vincent de Paul's PAP program works with over 165 drug companies' patient assistance programs. They access over 800 different medications for low-income individuals who do not have prescription coverage. They can get medications like blood pressure medication, cholesterol medication, inhalers, etc. Critical care medications and narcotics are not available through this program. If you have an emergency medical need, you should apply for Emergency Medicaid at the Rath Building in Buffalo.

The process takes anywhere from four to six weeks depending on the drug company and your doctor. Once your application is approved, a 90-day supply of medication is sent to your residence or doctor's office. Most drug companies ask for a renewal application and prescription every three months and new applications with updated income information every year.

Remember that each pharmaceutical company is different, so the process or requirements will vary depending on what drug you need.

First you will be interviewed over the phone to see if you qualify for the free drug program. If you do, then they will send you a list of items that you need to bring with you for your appointment (like income verification and a prescription). Once you gather your verification you will be given an appointment for an interview. At the interview you will be asked a few questions and will sign applications. After the interview, St. Vincent's PAP program sends the completed applications to the appropriate pharmaceutical companies. The medication is then sent to your home or physician's office for pick up. It's that simple.

Volunteers are available to answer questions Wednesdays and Thursdays. Call (716) 882-3360, extension 8.

What if I do not live in Buffalo or cannot get to St. Vincent de Paul? Can I still get free medication?

Yes. There are several ways to obtain free medication. First, if you have a computer, you can go to www. Needymeds. com. All the information that you need to get free medication is on that website.

Second, whether you are uninsured or your insurance does not cover medication, have your doctor contact the Patient's Assistance Program directly at 1-800-257-3273 and they will tell your doctor how to get free medication.

Third, the Medicine Program can help you get medications free of charge if you cannot afford them. You must not have any insurance coverage for outpatient prescription drugs or not be Medicaid eligible, and show that it is a financial hardship for you to purchase the medication.

To apply you must write a letter including the following information: (1) your name, address and telephone number (2) the name of your medication(s), and (3) the name of the doctor who prescribes the medication(s). You must also include a $5.00 processing fee for each medication. You can request that this be returned to you if you do not qualify for the program. Mail your letter to The Medicine Program, P.O. Box 515, Doniphan, MO 63935-0515. After your information is received, the program will contact you and your doctor and do an income assessment. If you have questions about this program, call 1-573-996-7300. Application forms may also be found at www.themedicineprogram.com.

You feel very strongly about a particular topic or law. You want to call your representative to let them know how you feel. But....do you know who your representatives are? What if you needed to contact your county legislator, would you know who to call? Chances are if you ask the person next to you who represents them at the federal, state, county and local level they will not know all the answers. Take a look at the list below. It covers your representatives in Western New York. Find out who represents you and fill in the following chart. If you do not know what district you are in, call the numbers below to find out.

My United States Senators are

_____________________________ and _______________________________

I live in the _____ Congressional District, therefore my United States Representative is

______________________________________.

I live in the _____ District, therefore my New York State Senator is ______________________________________.

I live in the _____ District, therefore my New York State Assemblyperson is

_____________________________________.

I live in the _____ District, therefore My Erie County Legislator is _____________________________________.

I live in the _________District in the City of Buffalo, therefore my Councilperson

is_______________________________________.

THE HON. CHARLES SCHUMER
111 W. Huron St., Room 620, Buffalo, NY 14202
716-846-4111

THE HON. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
28 Church St., Suite 208, Buffalo NY 14202
716-854-9725

District 26
THE HON. THOMAS REYNOLDS
500 Essjay Rd., Suite 260, Williamsville, NY 14221
716-634-2324
All Genesee, Wyoming, Livingston, Orleans Counties and parts of Monroe, Erie and Niagara.

District 27
THE HON. JACK QUINN (R)
403 Main St., Room 240, Buffalo, NY 14203
716-845-5257
Part of Erie County (Hamburg, Orchard Park, Cheektowaga, part of the City of Buffalo, Evans, Angola, Boston, Springville, Depew, Alden, Eden) and all of Chautauqua County.

District 28
THE HON. LOUISE SLAUGHTER (D)
465 Main St., Suite 105, Buffalo NY 14203
716-853-5813
Parts of Erie County, Monroe County, Niagara County, and Orleans County. Parts of Buffalo and Rochester, the second and third largest cities in New York, are joined by all or part of Appleton, Barker, Brighton, Burt, East Rochester, Fairport, Grand Island, Greece, Hamlin, Hilton, Holley, Irondequoit, Kendall, Kent, Lewiston, Lyndonville, Model City, Morton, Newfane, Niagara Falls, Olcott, Penfield, Perinton, Ransomville, Sanborn, Stella Niagara, City of Tonawanda, Town of Tonawanda, Waterport, Wilson, and Youngstown.

District 58
THE HON. WILLIAM STACHOWSKI
2030 Clinton St., Buffalo NY 14206
716-826-3344
Covers all Cheektowaga, West Seneca, Lackawanna, Hamburg, Eden and the Southern part of the City of Buffalo.

District 59
THE HON. DALE VOLKER
4729 Transit Rd., Suite 6, Depew NY 14043
716-656-8544
Covers part of Erie, Livingston, Ontario Counties and all of Wyoming County.

District 60
THE HON. BYRON W. BROWN
65 Court St., Suite 213, Buffalo NY 14202
716-854-8705
Parts of the City of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Grand Island and the Town of Tonawanda.

District 61
THE HON. MARY LOU RATH
5500 Main St., Suite 260, Williamsville NY 14221
716-633-0331
All Amherst, parts of the Town of Tonawanda, Clarence, Akron/Newstead, and Genesee County.

District 62
THE HON. GEORGE D. MAZIARZ
60 Professional Parkway, Lockport, New York 14094
716-438-0655
All Orleans County, western part Monroe County and all Niagara County, except Niagara Falls.

District 138
THE HON. FRANCINE DELMONTE
1700 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls, 14301
716-282-6062
Covers the City of Niagara Falls, Lewiston, Youngstown, Porter, Wilson, Ransomville, Newfane, Part of Wheatfield, Town of Niagara, Sanborn and Cambria.

District 139
THE HON. CHARLES NESBITT
121 N. Main St., Suite 100, Albion NY 14411
585-589-5780
Covers all of Orleans County, some of Monroe County, half Genesee County and a small part of Niagara County (Somerset).

District 140
THE HON. ROBIN SCHIMMINGER
3514 Delaware Ave., Kenmore NY 14217
716-873-2540
Covers the Town of Tonawanda, the City of Tonawanda and most of North Tonawanda.

District 141
THE HON. CRYSTAL PEOPLES
790-792 E. Delavan Ave., Buffalo NY 14215
716-897-9714
Covers the majority of the City of Buffalo, some of North Buffalo, some of the Westside and some of the Southside.

District 142
THE HON. SANDRA LEE WIRTH
1500 Union Rd., West Seneca NY 14224
716-675-7170
Covers Middleport, Royalton, Gasport, City and Town of Lockport, Akron, Alden, Newstead, Clarence, Clarence Center, Marilla, East Aurora, Elma, Town of Aurora and Wales.

District 143
THE HON. PAUL TOKAZ
125 Main St., Room 232, Buffalo NY 14203
716-852-2791
Covers Lancaster, Cheektowaga, Depew and Sloan.

District 144
THE HON. SAM HOYT
125 Main St., Suite 257, Buffalo NY 14203
716-852-2795
Covers Grand Island and part of the City of Buffalo (Niagara , North, Ellicott, Westside, Delaware and University Districts).

District 145
THE HON. BRIAN HIGGINS
306 Abbott Rd., Buffalo NY 14220
716-826-1878
Covers most of South Buffalo, half of Lackawanna, the Town of Orchard Park, and the Town of West Seneca.

District 146
THE HON. RICHARD SMITH
3812 S. Park Ave, Blasdell NY 14219
716- 826-1878
Covers some of Lackawanna, Hamburg, Blasdell, Boston, Brant, Farhnam, Colden, Collins, North Collins, Concord, Springville, Eden, Evans, Angola, Hamburg Village, Holland, Sardinia, and Gowanda.

District 148
THE HON. JAMES HAYES
5555 Main St., Williamsville NY 14221
716-634-1895
Covers all Amherst, and in Niagara County, all of Pendelton and part of North Tonawanda.

District 1
Edward J. Kuwik
822-0462
Covers the City of Lackawanna, Blasdell, and part of Hamburg and the City of Buffalo.

District 2
Mark J. F. Schroeder
824-6180
Covers parts of the City of Buffalo, the Village of Sloan, parts of Cheektowaga.

District 3
George A. Holt, Jr.
842-0490
Covers parts of the City of Buffalo (parts of the Delaware, Ellicott, Fillmore, Lovejoy, Masten, Niagara Wards).

District 4
Micheal H. Ranzenhofer
631-8695
Covers Newstead, Clarence, Akron, E. Amherst, part of Williamsville and Cheektowaga.

District 5
Denise E. Marshall
681-6666
Covers Alden, Elma, Marilla, Wales, Holland, Sardinia, and part of Lancaster.

District 6
Albert DeBenedetti
874-3257
Covers part of the City of Buffalo (Riverside and West Side).

District 7
Demone A. Smith
894-0914
Covers parts of the City of Buffalo (Delaware , Lovejoy , Masten, University, Niagara Wards).

District 8
Raymond K. Dusza
684-0331
Covers parts of the Town of Cheektowaga and Lancaster, and the Village of Depew.

District 9
Timothy M. Wroblewski
675-8817
Covers the Towns of West Seneca and Cheektowaga.

District 10
Charles M. Swanick
877-3986
Covers the City of Tonawanda, the Town of Grand Island, and parts of the Town of Tonawanda and the Village of Kenmore.

District 11
Lynn M. Marinelli
832-0493
Covers parts of the Town of Tonawanda, and the City of Buffalo (parts of the Delaware and University Wards).

District 12
Jeanne Z. Chase
992-4271
Covers Evans, Brant, North Collins, Boston and parts of Hamburg.

District 13
Steven P. McCarville
667-2485
Covers parts of the Town of Orchard Park, and the Towns of Aurora, Boston, Brant, Colden, Collins.

District 14
Elise M. Cusak
836-0198
Covers parts of the Towns of Amherst, Cheektowaga, Tonawanda.

District 15
Barry A. Weinstein , M.D.
633-0617
Covers Williamsville and parts of East Amherst.

City of Buffalo Common Council is located in the City of Buffalo, Erie County. The legislative districts are as follows:

Delaware District - Marc A. Coppola
Ellicott District - Brian Davis
Fillmore District - David Franczyk
Lovejoy District - Richard A. Fontana
Masten District - Antoine Thompson
Niagara District - Dominic Bonifacio Jr.
North District - Joseph Golombek Jr.
South District - James Griffen
University District - Bonnie Russell

This is the first in a series of articles dealing with the Erie County Department of Social Services, Special Investigations Division (SID). This unit deals with overpayments of Public Assistance, Food Stamps, Medicaid, and Day Care. The Special Investigations Division is located at 43 Court Street, Second Floor in Buffalo.

There are three ways that you may find yourself at the Special Investigations' office:

If you receive a bill from the agency you can contact the Special Investigations Division at 858-1895 and ask for an explanation of the bill. You will most likely be given an appointment at this time to discuss any money owed to the agency.

If you receive a letter inviting you to call Special Investigations, the letter will list the amount of the overpayment, the type of assistance that was allegedly overpaid, and the period of time the alleged overpayment occurred. You will be given ten days in which to contact the person listed at the bottom of the letter for an appointment. NEVER IGNORE ONE OF THESE LETTERS. If you do not contact SID they can and most likely will start the process of obtaining a Summons and Complaint against you. This process will only end up costing you even more money!

If you receive a Summons and Complaint, do not ignore it! You have 20 days to answer if the Summons and Complaint was served to you personally and you have 30 days to answer if the Summons and Complaint was served on you any way other than personal service. Even though you are required to Answer the Summons and Complaint, SID will allow you to come in and work out payment arrangements instead of answering in court.

Do not sign any papers until you are sure of the overpayment amount, the reason for the overpayment and the time period of the overpayment. If you are not completely convinced that the overpayment is correct, talk to our office before signing. Many times there are mistakes in the calculations or that an overpayment even exists. We have seen reductions in overpayments that can add up to thousands of dollars! Some people may be “Collection Proof” and may not want to sign anything. So, don't ignore the bills, letters or court papers....the problem will not go away. Just make sure the amount of the overpayment is correct.

If you think you need representation with an overpayment, please contact Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc., at 716-847-0650 for possible assistance.

Did you pay for a vocational school, and never complete the course? Are you delinquent with your payments? Are you in default? Project Dandelion can help.

Income eligible clients can get free advice and assistance. Call to register for one of our free clinics. Clinics are held on the first TUESDAY of every month. Register today. We meet at 2:00 p.m. Call 847-0650 for more information.