Cayuga County Human Services
Medicaid Division

Philip Bauso Director
Phone: (315) 253-1228
Fax: (315) 253-4960

          Medicaid is a federally mandated program to cover medical expenses of the uninsured and underinsured. The program is administered locally through the Cayuga County Health and Human Services using criteria established by State and Federal government. It is funded by Federal, State, and local taxes.

          Eligibility for Medicaid, although financially driven, takes into consideration household composition, age, and the ability of an individual to carry out substantial gainful activity.

          In Cayuga County, Medicaid is a "fee for service" program that covers most traditional medical needs; for example, prescriptions, inpatient and outpatient care, nursing home care, physician's services lab work, therapy, etc.

          Medicaid allows expanded financial limit for some category of people; for example, pregnant females, children under age 19, and certain disabled individuals. Medicaid may also pay certain health insurance premiums such as Cobra benefits and Medicare premiums.

          Currently Cayuga County carries 4,676 Medicaid only cases, 1700 of which are SSI recipients, 440 are nursing home cases, and 170 are cases that came into the Medicaid system through our facilitated enrollment program that initiated July 2000.

          There is legislation in the works to expand medical coverage to more uninsured New Yorkers by establishing additional Medicaid supported insurance programs such as Family Health Plus and a premium payment program. New York State anticipates about 2200 will become eligible for Medicaid funded programs in Cayuga County over the next three years.

Cayuga County Human Services Home Page

Updated: 1/7/2010