Three New York Counties Ask State To Cap Their Contributions to Medicaid

Warning that "soaring" health care costs, an increase in state-mandated programs and an economic slowdown could make it "virtually impossible" to balance future budgets, officials from Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties in New York state on Sept. 12 proposed that the state cap counties' Medicaid contributions, the New York Times reports. The federal government pays at least half of each state's Medicaid costs, and the state is responsible for the rest. However, about 20 states, including New York, require that counties pay some portion of Medicaid costs, and some New York counties say the counties' contributions are higher than counties in other states. According to Kevin Quinn, a spokesperson for the New York State Division of Budget, New York counties pay 15.8% of total Medicaid expenses on average, with the state paying 33.1% and the federal government paying 51.1%. Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi said, "We cannot continue to hold the line in our communities if we keep on having increasing costs that are unrelated to anything that's under our control. [The costs] should be picked up by the state." According to Suozzi, his county's Medicaid costs are expected to reach $463 million in 2006, up from $284 million this year. In addition to requesting the cap on Medicaid spending, Suozzi joined Robert Gaffney and Andrew Spano, the Suffolk and Westchester County executives, respectively, in suggesting that state lawmakers reduce counties' Medicaid costs by mandating the state pay for any expansions of Medicaid coverage. Quinn countered that the state over the past eight years has "kept Medicaid costs under control" (Gootman, New York Times, 9/13). Long Island Newsday reports that the New York State Association of Counties is expected to meet Sept. 13 in Syracuse to address Medicaid issues (Burgher, Long Island Newsday, 9/13).