Biden Administration Bill Benefits NYS & Local Counties Including Livingston

 

n March 2020, the U.S. Senate passed an emergency legislative package in response to the COVID-19 crisis. This measure sends billions of dollars to New York State on an annual basis – with Livingston County slated to receive approximately $1.5 million each year.

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) pushed to include a cost-sharing provision in the emergency bill so New York State counties – which pay a portion of Medicaid costs – directly benefit from an increase in federal Medicaid support. Schumer’s efforts increased the federal share of New York State’s Medicaid program from 50% to 56.2%, thus reducing the state’s share and delivering more federal dollars to the state and counties.

More recently, the Biden Administration – with strong support from Schumer – agreed to extend these Medicaid savings for at least two more quarters and possibly a third due to the ongoing public health emergency.

David LeFeber, Chairman of the Livingston County Board of Supervisors, stated, “Livingston County supports these Federal actions and sends a big thank you to our Federal delegation for their fight to secure these much needed expense offsets.”

“The Medicaid savings, while temporary, are indeed a relief for County taxpayers,” commented Ian M. Coyle, Livingston County Administrator. “The Medicaid funding news also shines a spotlight on the program itself and New York’s financially onerous cost-sharing arrangement with county governments. We welcome the Federal relief. This is good news. We now hope there is some substantive discussion about the Medicaid program in general, and the long-term viability of such heavy reliance on county budgets for the funding of this expensive and growing program.”

President Biden also issued an executive memorandum directing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse local governments 100% of COVID-19-related expenses by waiving the 25% state and local share. The order allows reimbursement for such items and services as masks, gloves, emergency food distribution, sheltering at risk populations, and mobilization of the National Guard. The reimbursements are retroactive to January 20, 2020.

Brad Austin, Livingston County’s Director of Emergency Management, stated, “The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for many local governments that are now faced with increasing expenses and decreasing revenues. President Biden’s order will allow us greater access to resources to fight this pandemic and to keep our emergency responders and community safe.”

For more information on Medicaid savings and FEMA reimbursements, please contact the Livingston County Administrator’s Office at 585-243-7040.