State budget will cap counties' Medicaid tab

Senator George D. Maziarz (R-C, North Tonawanda) says that the new state budget will include a new Medicaid relief program that will provide more than $70 million in tax savings for Monroe County taxpayers.

The savings, designed to ease pressure on local property taxes, stems from new cost controls and a "cap" on local Medicaid costs, as well as an accelerated state takeover of the Family Health Plus program, according to a press release.

The cap, which was also included in the Senate's original budget proposal, will provide approximately $8.5 million to Monroe County taxpayers in 2005. That amount will grow annually to more than $70 million in 2009.

In addition, new local accountability standards will save taxpayers even more money as counties seek to improve the program's efficiency, Maziarz said.