Web News - May 2009

May 1, 2009

Author: Catherine M. Callery (Kate)| Louise M. Tarantino

Just the Facts, Please

A recent article in law.com, Dive Into Deep Web Research, provides a number of tips on using the internet to research facts relevant to legal claims.  DAP advocates may not need to learn how to search the National Weather Service website for the temperature on a particular day, but there are many instances when we need factual information to support our client’s claims.  In addition to reviewing some basic searching principles, the article gives pointers on searching meta-search engines, which search multiple search engines at once.  It also explores the “Deep Web,” that part of the World Wide Web that conventional search engines such as Google and Yahoo cannot access.

http://www.law.com/jsp/legaltechnology/pubArticleLT.jsp?id=1202429965898

Settlement, Anyone?

Did you know that Target settled a lawsuit with the national Federation of the Blind for $6 million?  Or that some developmentally disabled Californians recently won a lawsuit?  Information on these settlements and many others are available at a private marketing enterprise website that may be useful to us and our clients.

http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/settlements_category.html?category=Civil%2FHuman+Rights

Too Young for EPIC?  Try NYPS

New York Prescription Saver (NYPS) Card is a free prescription discount card that will help people who are under age 65 so are too young for EPIC save on the cost of prescription drugs. The card is sponsored by New York State and the discounts are provided by pharmacies and manufacturers.  Unlike EPIC, the discount card doesn't actually PAY for the drug.  It simply gives the consumer the benefit of the same discounted price that EPIC negotiates for its members.  It can lower the cost of prescriptions by as much as 60 percent on generics and 30 percent on brand name drugs. There is a growing network of pharmacies participating in this program.  There are now 4,000 pharmacies in this network, which includes a large percentage of independent drug stores and all major chain stores.

https://nyprescriptionsaver.fhsc.com/

Am I Eligible for Benefits?

The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and Department of Health (DOH) announced that New Yorkers can now determine if they may be eligible for public health insurance programs through a new website.

New Yorkers can now use the site to determine whether they are eligible for Medicaid, Family Health Plus, and Child Health Plus. The website, launched last June, has already allowed people to determine eligibility for a range of programs and benefits, including Food Stamps, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other tax credits, the Home Energy Assistance Program, free and reduced-price school meals, and the WIC and EPIC programs.

www.myBenefits.ny.gov