Representatives from county governments across New York State were at the State Capitol recently to voice their concerns over changes to the Medicaid program contained in the Executive Budget, and to call on state lawmakers to maintain the current Medicaid cost control caps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCounties are eager to be constructive partners in finding ways to strengthen Medicaid and improve the quality of care for our residents,\u201d said Martha Sauerbrey, chairwomen of Tioga County Legislature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She added, \u201cBut our local taxpayers can\u2019t afford additional tax increases or cuts to services, which is why we must maintain the current state cost control caps.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
New York is one of the few states in the nation to require county funds to cover the cost of Medicaid, and the only one that required county taxpayers to fund a full half of the State\u2019s share when it was implemented in 1966. Today, counties and New York City fund $7.6 billion of the state\u2019s more than $70 billion Medicaid program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2012, to help counties and local governments adhere to the 2 percent property tax cap, Governor Cuomo and State Lawmakers enacted a zero growth Medicaid cap. The cap helped counties to stabilize and, in several cases, reduce county property tax rate levies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe current caps to Medicaid costs have been critical to bending the curve of perpetually increasing property taxes while ensuring counties can afford to provide the services our residents depend on,\u201d said Sauerbrey, adding, \u201cIf counties are forced to absorb additional Medicaid costs, we\u2019ll have no choice but to raise taxes or cut services.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposals contained in the Executive Budget are expected to shift approximately $150 million in additional costs on to New York counties. In Tioga County, that could result in dramatic increases in property taxes or cuts to services including veterans\u2019 services, road maintenance and repair, youth services, public libraries, STOP-DWI initiatives, Meals on Wheels, and other senior services, tourism promotion, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe recognize that cost drivers like expanded eligibility and more access to long-term care are a positive thing that have made a real difference in many people\u2019s lives,\u201d Sauerbrey said. \u201cBut these costs are not controlled by the counties and we think it\u2019s unfair to ask counties to foot the bill for increases that we have no control over.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Representatives from county governments across New York State were at the State Capitol recently to voice their concerns over changes to the Medicaid program contained…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial"],"yoast_head":"\n