Senator Saland Announces Budget Passed Today To Include A Cap On Columbia County’s Medicaid Costs

Senator Steve Saland (R,C Poughkeepsie) today announced that a new Medicaid relief program will provide over $6 million in tax savings for Columbia County.

The savings will result from new cost controls and a cap on local Medicaid costs as well as an accelerated takeover of the Family Health Plus program. There will also be increased accountability and cost containment measures in place to improve efficiency. Among those cost containment measures are a preferred drug list and an increase in certain co-payment requirements.

Columbia County will experience approximately $800,000 in property tax relief in County Fiscal Year 2006 with the amount growing to approximately 6 million in 2009.

"Medicaid reform has presented an enormous challenge to federal, state, and county governments," said Senator Saland. "For a number of years the Senate Majority has been in the forefront of this reform effort. The accelerated takeover of Family Health Plus, the enactment of a cap and a number of cost containment measures are not only major steps on the road to reform but help relieve the burden on local taxpayers."