Senator Walczyk Co-Sponsors Legislation, Joined by Chairmen of Each County in SD-49, To Oppose eFMAP Intercept

Senator Mark Walczyk proudly co-sponsors S6716 to require enhanced federal medical assistance percentage funds be directly shared with the counties and city of New York. In this year's budget, Governor Kathy Hochul has implemented a plan to absorb up to $1 billion in eFMAP funding. This intercept of funds is a devastating blow to many counties in the State. For years, Congress delivered federal funds to states to cover a share of their Medicaid programs. Congress intended these funds to be shared with counties and New York City. 

In a press release this year, the New York State Association of Counties said, “Unfortunately, the Governor’s budget includes an unprecedented shift that will saddle local taxpayers with up to $1 billion in new Medicaid costs by pocketing Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Program (eFMAP) funds that were intended to go directly to local governments to help hold costs down."

According to numbers that were noted in the initial budget briefing book, there are multiple counties in the state that will lose over $20 million in revenue. One county will even lose over $30 million. In the 49th Senate district, all but two counties will lose over $1.5 million in eFMAP funding with Oswego and St. Lawrence counties losing over $3 million. NYSAC also believes that the impact will be even larger than estimated by the State based on historical data.  The tab for this theft of funds will fall on the already overburdened taxpayers and put county-administered Medicaid services on the chopping block.

“Property taxpayers are rightly outraged by the Governor's plan to shift more Medicaid burden onto them,” said Senator Mark Walczyk. "Likewise, the seven Counties of the 49th Senate District all know how massive this theft of programmed Federal money is. What they're doing is wrong and we should immediately take up this legislative fix to reverse the damage."

“Losing funds due to the eFMAP intercept will have costly repercussions for Lewis County,” said County Legislature Chairman, Larry Dolholf. “Taxpayers will be on the hook to make up for the hundreds of thousands of dollars that the county has budgeted that will not be available due to the Governor’s plan. I stand with Senator Walczyk and other representatives that oppose this senseless intercept.”  

“St. Lawrence County simply cannot afford to lose the estimated over 3 million dollars that the Governor has proposed to take through the eFMAP intercept,” said St. Lawrence County Legislature Chairman David Forsythe. “Senator Walczyk, St. Lawrence County, and other county leaders are telling the Executive what she needs to hear. That money is not the Governor’s money to do what she pleases with, it’s money meant for the counties to help relieve the burden taxpayers face. It needs to remain as funds for the counties as it was originally intended.”

“Herkimer County strongly disapproves of the Governor’s plan to steal just under 2 million dollars of eFMAP funding away from our taxpayers,” said Herkimer County Legislature Chairman, Vincent J. Bono. “This intercept is simply government theft in plain sight. We are opposed to this plan and will do anything we can to stop its implementation. Thank you Senator Walczyk and other county leaders who are willing to speak out against this important issue.”

“Hamilton County is home to over 5 thousand of the best New Yorker’s you could ever hope to meet,” said Hamilton County Legislature Chairman, Brian Wells. “When they planted their roots in our county, they didn’t sign up for the Governor to take thousands and thousands of dollars and leave it’s taxpayers on the hook to make up for it. Hamilton County needs this funding and if her plan is implemented it will have dire impacts on tax rates and the services the county can provide. We stand against this plan and gladly join opposition efforts at the State and County levels.”

  “The Governor is misguided in taking eFMAP funding away from the counties that desperately need this money,” said Fulton County Legislature Chairman, Scott Horton. “EFMAP is not some pool of cash that a governor can use as discretionary funding. It’s necessary relief for our taxpayers and without it will put an immense financial strain on its residents. Fulton County strongly disagrees with this intercept and are glad that county leaders and State Legislators like Senator Walczyk oppose it as well. 

“In Jefferson County, an estimated 2.5 million dollars will be lost due to the eFMAP intercept,” said Jefferson County Legislature Chairman, Bill Johnson. “The loss of these funds could put the burden of making up the shortfall on our taxpayers. We thank Senator Walczyk and other State and County leaders who are standing up to oppose this financially irresponsible plan. 

"Over 3 million dollars. That is what the Governor is proposing to take through her over-reaching eFMAP intercept plan, said Oswego County Legislature Chairman, Jim Weatherup. "That is no small number that will put even more burden on the taxpayers of Oswego County. I stand vehemently opposed to this plan and am proud to stand with other representatives and fight against this intercept."