NORWICH – A request for repeal of a nearly $300,0000 bill to Chenango County has been rejected by the New York State Office of Mental Health, leaving county officials pondering ways to pay.

According to the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), the county received more than was due in medical reimbursement for outpatient services at the county's community mental hygiene service center, located on East River Road in Norwich. The state department claims the local center received a surplus totaling $293,409 in comprehensive outpatient program services (COPS) from 2006-2008.

COPS is a program which makes a provider of licensed mental health outpatient services eligible to receive supplemental medical assistance reimbursement (paid to providers through the Medicaid payment system) in exchange for provision of enhanced outpatient services.

Knowing of the chargeback last year, the county sought a repeal of the charges in August, citing possible miscalculations of reimbursements at the state level. Tom Crounse, administrative services officer at the Chenango County Mental Health Outpatient Clinic, said a the time the state's estimates were far above those estimated by the local department.