MINEOLA, NY— Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, joined by Legislator Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington), and Commissioner of Consumer Affairs Roger Bogsted, today signed into effect new local law that will go a long way in protecting Nassau County consumers.< P>

Mineola, NY-- Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi will continue his fight for Medicaid Reform in Albany today by encouraging Albany to pass the Local Taxpayer Relief Act of 2004.

The Local Taxpayer Relief Act of 2004, also known as the Sweeney Bill, would provide much-needed relief to local taxpayers by capping Medicaid local share costs paid by counties in New York State.

This is part of a statewide, bipartisan effort to bring attention to the dire need for Medicaid reform in New York State and pressure state lawmakers in both the Senate and Assembly to make changes in the Medicaid system. County Executive Suozzi, who has aggressively championed Medicaid relief for Nassau residents, is President-Elect of the New York State County Executive Association.

"Our goal is to implore the New York State Assembly and Senate to act this year on the Sweeney Bill," County Executive Suozzi said. "If the Local Taxpayer Relief Act of 2004 is passed in Albany we would get a desperately needed cap on Medicaid costs. The issue of Medicaid has been choking municipalities across the State for decades. The double digit increases in county share costs can no longer be sustained."

According to the New York State Association of Counties, from 1999-2003, county taxpayers had to fund almost a 50 percent increase in Medicaid. New York's Medicaid program is the most expensive in the nation at $42 billion annually. The total local share of Medicaid climbed from $3.7 billion in 1999 to more than $5.5 billion in 2003. Using current rates of growth, the Association estimates the local share will reach a staggering $7.5 billion in 2005. Only 20 states pass along any portion of Medicaid costs to the counties. Of those states, New York's local share stands out as the highest burden charged to counties as New York is one of only two states--the other being North Carolina--where the counties are required to fund every Medicaid service.

The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) is a non-profit bipartisan association serving 62 counties in New York State, including Nassau County and the City of New York. Organized in 1925, it remains the only statewide municipal association representing the interests of close to 5,000 county officials, including legislators, supervisors, county executives, administrators, commissioners and other county employees. Every county in the state is a member of the NYSAC.

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