PRESS RELEASE

Contact: David Pendergast

Executive Assistant
(315) 798-5800

County Executive Ralph J. Eannace, Jr. today commended Senator Raymond A. Meier, R-C, Western, for legislation initiated to relieve county property taxpayers of a potential burden imposed by an expansion of the Medicaid system.

Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and Senator Meier announced the introduction of the legislation today in Albany. Senator Bruno also announced this measure will be a priority for the Senate Majority in negotiating a 2000-01 state budget.

Under this proposal, Oneida County will receive $3,229,492 in state aid from 2001 through 2003 to pick up the cost the county is expected to pay for the Family Health Plus program.

"When HCRA 2000 came before the Senate last month, I voted in favor of the bill because of the health benefits it provided to more than 1 million New Yorkers," Meier said. "At the same time, just as I did during my six years as Oneida County Executive, and in consultation with Ralph J. Eannace, Jr., I joined with Senator Bruno and other members of the Senate Majority in raising concerns about the possible impact programs like this could have on county governments.

"This proposal preserves all the benefits of HCRA 2000 and avoids any potential burden on county property taxpayers," Meier continued.

"On behalf of Oneida County, we applaud the Senate’s legislation to hold counties harmless for the costs of implementing Family Health Plus," Eannace said. "Requiring counties to contribute to the costs of Family Health Plus would have been a major step backwards from our goal of reducing property taxes, which we all know is important to making the Mohawk Valley a more affordable place to live and work."

Senators Meier and Mary Lou Rath, R-C, Williamsville, have worked with Senator Bruno to develop this proposal since the Health Care Reform Act of 2000 was passed by the Legislature and signed into law in late December. The proposal would provide $340 million over the next three years to the 62 counties in the state to offset increased Medicaid costs relating to the Family Health Plus program, which was a part of HCRA 2000. Family Health Plus will expand the Medicaid system to provide health insurance to working families who do not have health insurance as a benefit of employment. The program will take effect January 1, 20001.

"Senator Rath and I spent a lot of time with Senator Bruno expressing our concerns before HCRA was approved," Meier said. "Senator Bruno promised to examine the facts, and to support legislation to prevent HCRA from impacting county taxpayers, and he has held true to his word."