Medicaid and your Property Tax Bill

Medicaid is a federally mandated program that requires states to provide medical benefits to those who qualify based upon financial criteria.   The term “unfunded mandates” refers to a variety of services and programs that are created by either the federal or state government but funded, partially or wholly, by the county governments. Only two states in the country pass the cost of the federal Medicaid mandate onto local governments-- Michigan and New York.

I was shocked to learn that in 2011, Rockland County's mandated share of the Medicaid costs completely exceeded the entire amount of the property taxes that Rockland County collected. That’s right, 100% of all the property taxes collected in 2011 were not enough to pay the County's share of the Medicaid Mandate. In 2012, Medicaid consumed 91% of the property taxes received and in 2013 it was 80%. Medicaid costs have not gone down--- they have gone up-- but the County property taxes have gone up more. The 2014 budget projects Medicaid costs of $74,300,000  and property tax revenue of $105,060,167, which means that in 2014, Medicaid will still eat up more than 70% of our property taxes.

The 2014 State County and Town tax bills that were issued in late December and were due at the end of January included a breakout of the Medicaid expense as a line item.  The expense was not new, but it was the first time it was shown that way on the bills.  The purpose was to raise awareness of the cost of this mandated program.

Tackling Medicaid Fraud

As your representative in County government I will do what I can to speak out against the State mandates that are crippling our budget.  I recognize however, that at least for the short term, they are here to stay. Therefore, I am supporting efforts to prevent the abuse of Medicaid and other public assistance by those who are taking advantage of a system that is overwhelmed.  There are several bills presently pending in the New York State Assembly and Senate.  I am sponsoring local legislation to encourage our State lawmakers to provide greater incentives to the county governments to criminally prosecute those that knowingly and intentionally defraud Medicaid.   By increasing the local government’s financial stake in recoveries from criminal prosecutions, the number of prosecutions should increase.  Medicaid fraud takes all forms.  Patients who get and take what they aren't entitled to, and service providers who bill without providing services or for services different than provided.  Fraud should not be tolerated in any form.  I will work closely with our Rockland County District Attorney, Tom Zugibe, on these issues of fraud.  More prosecutions will both punish the criminals and deter others from becoming criminals!

2017 ~ Barry S. Kantrowitz
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