Rockland County Legislator Ed Day, R-New City, has called for a review of Medicaid spending by the county that would also determine whether enough is being done to prevent and detect Medicaid fraud.

"Medicaid expenditures represent an amount that is 110 percent of all the property taxes collected here in Rockland," said Day. "A number of issues have recently surfaced that demand an accounting and review of exactly how we approach spending local taxpayer dollars on this program."

Day said the issue is being brought up for discussion at the Legislature's Multi-Services Committee.

The review, Day said, is not prompted by any particular local problem. Instead, he contends studies of Medicaid nationally and in New York have found significant fraud. He noted that the situation prompted the state to set up special project focusing on Medicaid in Westchester, but that the effort to cut fraud has not spread.

 "While I believe it is important to ensure all receive adequate health care regardless of their station in life or challenges they may be face, these numbers scream out for immediate attention," Day said. "My question is what is being done by New York State to help us right here in Rockland, three full years after this report was issued?"

Day said he also concerned about Medicaid spending in Rockland because of attempts by Gov. David Paterson, through his proposed budget, to alter the legislation passed in 2005 that placed a cap on local government Medicaid costs in order to bring some level of stability to the local property tax burden. This legislation was enacted in response to the local share of Medicaid costs rising from approximately $28 million to $62 million over eight years.

"The governor's continuing attack on the average taxpayer is not going unnoticed, and is no more than a continuation of the transference of the cost of state government onto the backs of our local taxpayers," said Day. "Instead of looking for new ways to add to our tax burden, he should be looking at ways to save money by managing programs like Medicaid more efficiently."

Day said the impact of Medicaid spending on the county is big enough that it deserves a special review by the Legislature and the county government.