By Bert Gambini and Ashley Hassett
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-945092.mp3
Buffalo, NY – Erie County Executive Chris Collins is urging State lawmakers to give local governments more flexibility to control Medicaid costs.
Collins said loosening that hold will ultimately result in lower taxes. But if approved, it could leave some on Medicaid paying for services such as dental, vision and hearing.
Collins said each county has different needs and should be able to decide which medicaid services are not needed and which are not.
"Let the counties decided -- what's right in Erie County," said Collins.
We reached out to Erie County democratic Majority Leader Maria Whyte who has understands the desire to cut expenses, while at the time recognizing that some existing care is already keeping expenses down.
"We can either pay at the pump or we can pay a lot more down the pike," said Whyte.
Whyte is open to the idea of reform, however she is still uncertain that Medicaid users will be able to pay for some of the proposed out-of-pocket expenses.