Guv's budget chief contests Levy health-cut claim

The other day, in a fusillade directed at Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy's visit to Long Island, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy issued a news release offering Duffy "a guided tour of the public health centers that the governor’s $20 million in cuts to Suffolk health services have imperiled."

But while the state is discontinuing certain "optional services counties choose to provide," going forward, according to Budget Director Robert Megna (above), Suffolk officials have been rhetorically conflating this with the matter of back funds due the state -- for "improperly claimed reimbursements for services that were not eligible for such reimbursement."

That is, according to Megna, $15 million cited in some accounts "is state money. The state is in discussions and ongoing litigation with the county to resolve this dispute and we will continue to work with them in good faith."

Claims of a higher figure is "fundamentally inaccurate and needlessly frightens the New Yorkers who depend on these services," Megna states.

He says, in his statement:

"As for funding in this year's budget, the state has been forced to make difficult choices and can no longer afford to help subsidize optional services counties choose to provide. Going forward, if Suffolk County would like to continue to provide these various services, it is certainly able to do so."

"In the end, Suffolk County nursing homes benefit under Governor Cuomo's budget and any claims otherwise are fundamentally false."