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By Max Oglesbee

Congressmen Langworthy and Molinaro Lead The Charge To Ensure eFMAP Funding Remains In NYS

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Allegany County would stand to see nearly $2 million dollars

WASHINGTON, DC – Upstate New York Congressmen Nick Langworthy (NY-23) and Marc Molinaro (NY-19) are leading the charge against Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2024 state budget proposal to raid the Enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (eFMAP) funds designated for counties and local governments and saddle taxpayers with up to $1 billion in new Medicaid costs. The diversion of these funds will force municipalities to raise property taxes and drastically cut services. Together, with other members of the New York delegation, they sent a letter imploring the governor to reverse her decision that will have grave consequences for communities across the state. 

Langworthy and Molinaro write, “Your decision to divert the necessary local support from eFMAP will force our state’s local governments to shoulder the shortfall. This will lead to a reduction in access for the very services that eFMAP is intended to support, leading to harm for the most vulnerable.. Other localities could be forced to raise property taxes. It is ironic that—following a State of the State Address where you pledged to make New York state more affordable—you are now pursuing a policy that could ultimately leave New Yorkers with higher taxes, higher costs, and fewer services.”

According to the New York Association of Counties, the following funding would be cut from counties inside New York’s 23rd congressional district:

  • Allegany County: $1.97 million
  • Cattaraugus County: $3.35 million
  • Chautauqua County: $6.24 million
  • Chemung County: $4 million
  • Erie County: $41.66 million
  • Schuyler County: $746 thousand
  • Steuben County: $3.87 million

Langworthy and Molinaro also had the support from the delegation with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22), Congressman Nick LaLota (NY-01), Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, Congressman Andrew Garbarino, and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis signing on to the letter for the governor. 

FMAP is vital federal resource that supports New York State’s Medicaid program. New York has received enhanced federal funding under eFMAP which provides almost $300 million in federal funding to the state’s counties and almost $700 million to New York City. Governor Hochul’s decision to divert all $1 billion of eFMAP money directly into the state’s coffers is wrong and goes against the purpose of the program.

Read the full letter here.

Read the letter from the Allegany County Legislature last week, demanding action:

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