Tompkins County legislature approves short-term funding for community COVID surveillance testing

The Tompkins County Legislature voted Aug. 18 to appropriate county funds to sustain community surveillance testing administered by Cayuga Health Systems (CHS) for an initial 10-week period, after hearing a detailed update from County Administrator Jason Molino and public-health staff.

"Surveillance testing is an important part of being able to identify the disease as quickly as possible," said Frank (public-health/EOC staff) during the presentation. County staff described a change in insurer reimbursement policy that limited payments for tests not deemed "medically necessary," such as routine asymptomatic surveillance, and recommended the county temporarily underwrite the local share while submitting claims to FEMA and the state for reimbursement.

Jason Molino, county administrator, outlined the proposed financial approach: CHS would administer testing and the county would front the local share of costs and submit FEMA reimbursement requests; FEMA reimbursement timelines were discussed as potentially 4–6 weeks. Staff estimated the county's net exposure for a 10-week testing period could be about $300,000 if the state did not provide the typical 12.5% contribution; if the state reimbursed that portion the net exposure was estimated nearer $150,000.

Supporters said sustaining free or county-subsidized testing removes barriers for vulnerable populations and aids quick identification of asymptomatic cases. Legislator Shauna Black, sponsor of a separate USPS resolution earlier in the meeting, said the county "cannot in good conscience deny people access to surveillance testing" given equity concerns. Opponents had urged caution over the county budget impact; the motion carried following debate and an executive-session discussion of proprietary financial details.

The motion authorized an appropriation from the contingent fund and empowered the county administrator to execute a contract with Cayuga Health Systems for continued community surveillance testing for county residents, subject to the reimbursement process.