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North Country legislators seek plan to shift Medicaid costs back to state; officials say shift would cut county’s tax levy up to $26 million

Posted 3/5/14

By JIMMY LAWTON CANTON -- St. Lawrence County legislators want the state to take over the county’s share of Medicaid costs and seek federal assistance via the Affordable Care Act to offset them. …

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North Country legislators seek plan to shift Medicaid costs back to state; officials say shift would cut county’s tax levy up to $26 million

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON -- St. Lawrence County legislators want the state to take over the county’s share of Medicaid costs and seek federal assistance via the Affordable Care Act to offset them.

The plan would shift the Medicaid costs back to state, and would require the state to seek federal financial support offered under the Affordable Care Act, which is often referred to as Obamacare.

Legislators say the shift would cut the county’s tax levy by as much as $26 million.

The board approved the resolution Monday that asks the state to gradually reduce the local share of Medicaid costs, by taking advantage of funds available in the ACA.

New York is one of only three states that force counties to share the cost of providing Medicaid.

Board chairman Jonathan Putney, a Democrat from Waddington, said the proposal would relieve the county from its Medicaid obligations, which makes up roughly 50 percent of the total county tax levy. Instead Medicaid would be implemented and funded by the state. Putney said this makes sense, because of reimbursements available under the Affordable Care Act.

“The state Legislature and governor have made the reduction in property tax growth a top priority,” the resolution says. “The ACA provides continued opportunities for New York State to lower Medicaid program costs beyond those related to enhanced federal matching funds”

Putney said the request is another attempt at mandate relief from the state, but it also provides potential cost savings for the state, since the ACA provides assistance in offsetting Medicaid costs.

New York is one of only three states that forces counties to share the cost of providing Medicaid benefits.

“I think we are stuck with a $26 million bill annually and we have no control of the regulations, but have to implement the program. With the Affordable Care Act there is federal money available to reimburse the state. Those extra funds should be used to remove the county portion of Medicaid,” he said. “We have a had a certain level of success in getting some relief on Medicaid. This would expand that,” he said.

The resolution also calls on state lawmakers to “diligently pursue the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and to work closely with the New York Congressional Delegation to preserve the enhanced Medicaid matching rates available to the State under the law.”

It also calls on the state to take advantage of any opportunities provided by the Affordable Care Act.