WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Marc Molinaro (NY-19) has introduced a bill that would prevent Governor Kathy Hochul from using the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (eFMAP) funds for purposes other than the intended use. Molinaro said that Hochul is “stealing” the money in her 2024 budget.
Congress delivers federal funds directly to states to cover a share of their Medicaid programs. Congress intended these federal funds, known as eFMAP, to be shared with counties and New York City. Under Governor Hochul’s 2024 budget, the Governor absorbs up to $1 billion in eFMAP funds into the state, putting county-administered Medicaid services in jeopardy. Rep. Molinaro’s measure clarifies that it’s Congress’s intention for eFMAP funds to be shared directly with county governments and New York City.
Molinaro has intimate knowledge of how the state distributes Medicaid funds to counties, having served in the State Assembly, Dutchess County Legislature, and most recently he served 11 years as Dutchess County Executive.
Molinaro said, “Congress intended federal Medicaid dollars to go directly to local governments for services that children, seniors, working moms, and our most vulnerable neighbors rely on. Governor Hochul’s budget steals these Medicaid funds and redirects them to grow a bloated and wasteful state bureaucracy,” adding “The Governor’s move is not in the spirit or letter of the law. I introduced this measure to make crystal clear: federal Medicaid dollars must go directly to local governments – not to subsidize more out-of-control spending in Albany.”
New York State Association of CountiesPresident and Clinton County Administrator Michael Zurlo endorsed Molinaro’s plan, saying, “More than a decade ago, New York’s counties turned to our Congressional Delegation to ensure that new federal Medicaid aid to states would directly benefit the county taxpayers whose property taxes fund the program. With Governor Hochul following in the footsteps of her predecessor by attempting to intercept this aid, counties are once again appealing to our federal champions to stand up on behalf of local taxpayers.”
Molinaro has intimate knowledge of how the state distributes Medicaid funds to counties, having served in the State Assembly, the Dutchess County Legislature, and 11 years as Dutchess County Executive.
We’re grateful to have partners in Congress like Rep. Molinaro, who have served in local government and understand that every time the state shifts costs to counties, they ultimately come out of the pocket of local homeowners and renters and make New York state less affordable.”
