What's happening
This bill changes how medical assistance expenditures are calculated for social services districts, excluding New York City, and affects county budget limits.
Why it matters
Shifts Medical Assistance Cost Calculations for Counties. The bill introduces a new formula for determining how much counties (excluding NYC) are responsible for in medical assistance expenditures, potentially reducing their required contribution over time, which could free up local funds for other services or reduce pressure on county budgets.
Excludes New York City from Changes. By specifically excluding NYC (any city with a population over one million), the bill targets relief to smaller counties, potentially addressing disparities in fiscal capacity and the impact of Medicaid costs in upstate and suburban areas.
Introduces a Mechanism for Budget Cap Adjustments. Counties will be able to subtract any decrease in their medical assistance spending from one year to the next when calculating their property tax cap, which could result in lower property tax increases or even decreases for residents in those counties.
Potential Long-Term Impact on Local Services and Taxpayers. By limiting or reducing the growth of county Medicaid costs, the bill could allow counties to stabilize or lower property taxes or redirect funds to other local priorities, but it may shift more of the Medicaid funding burden to the state government.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Medicaid Cost Increases
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1251
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 6, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AKSHAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend chapter 58 of the laws of 2005, relating to authorizing reimbursements for expenditures made by or on behalf of social services districts for medical assistance for needy persons and the administration thereof; and to amend the general municipal law, in relation to calculating social services district medical assistance expenditure amounts
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1 of part C of chapter 58 of the laws of 2005, relating to authorizing reimbursements for expenditures made by or on behalf of social services districts for medical assistance for needy persons and the administration thereof, is amended by adding a new subdivision (c-2) to read as follows:
(c-2) Notwithstanding any provisions of subdivisions (c) and (c-1) of this section to the contrary, effective April 1, 2017, for the period January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 and for each calendar year thereafter, the medical assistance expenditure amount for the social services district for such period shall be the greater of (i) zero; or (ii) the previous calendar year's medical assistance expenditure amount minus 20% of the medical assistance expenditure amount for the period January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017, except that for the period January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, the previous calendar year medical assistance expenditure amount will be unchanged. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to any social services district containing a city having a population of one million or more.
§ 2. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 3 of section 3-c of the general municipal law is amended by adding a new subparagraph (viii) to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04354-01-7
S. 1251 2
(viii) Subtract the amount that the prior fiscal year's medical assistance expenditure amount exceeds the current fiscal year's medical assistance expenditure amount, provided that this shall only apply to counties and shall only apply to fiscal years that begin after two thousand seventeen.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that the amendments to section 3-c of the general municipal law made by section two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend chapter 58 of the laws of 2005, relating to authorizing reimbursements for expenditures made by or on behalf of social services districts for medical assistance for needy persons and the administration thereof; and to amend the general municipal law, in relation to calculating social services district medical assistance expenditure amounts
Purpose or general idea of bill
A five-year state takeover of local Medicaid expenses for cities with a population of one million or less. The bill also provides that savings passed along to property tax payers by reducing the allowable levy under the tax cap.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 Amends section 1 of part C of chapter 58 of the laws of 2005 by amending a new subdivision (c-2) to make the medical assistance expenditure amount for the social service district shall be the greater of zero; or the previous calendar year's medical assistance expenditure amount.
Section 2 Amends the general municipal law to subtract the amount that the prior fiscal year's medical assistance expenditure amount exceeds the current fiscal year's medical assistance amount.
Section 3 Provides that the act shall take effect immediately provided that the amendments to section 3-c of the general municipal law made by section two of this act shall not affect the repeal of such a section.
Justification
Counties in New York have one of the largest shares of Medicaid costs in the country, approximately $8.4 billion annually. These costs put unfair pressures on municipalities across New York. This bill provides for a state takeover of Medicaid costs for cities with a population of one million or less residents to reduce the financial burden on local governments.
Legislative history
2016 - S6520: Referred to Local Government.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Effective Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.