State may forgive $2.4M Medicaid debt for county
Sept. 25, 2003

ELIZABETH COOPER
Observer-Dispatch

Oneida County may be able to take an item listed as a $2.4 million liability off its books, assisting its overall financial picture, county Social Services Commissioner Theodore C. Mohr said.

He spoke Wednesday evening at the county Board of Legislators's regular biweekly meeting.

The money, which had been advanced to the county a few years ago by the state to assist with overburdening relating to Medicaid costs, was part of more than $170 million in funds forwarded to all the counties for that purpose.

The state Senate has already approved a measure to forgive the advances, and a similar bill is now before the state Assembly.

"The good thing is now we won't have to pay it back (if the Assembly passes the measure)," Mohr said. "We can erase it from the books as a liability."

The relief, however, would do little to offset the county's soaring Medicaid costs, he said.

Medicaid costs are projected to reach $48.9 million this year.

Several legislators also noted the importance of the Assembly's passage of the measure.

In other business, the board passed 13 measures during the session, including the following:

* Two amendments to a purchase of service agreements between the county health department and the state Health Department's Bureau of Tuberculosis Control.

* Modification of a lease agreement between Oneida County and 242 W. Dominick Corp. for space at Working Solutions, Rome One Stop Center located at that address.