Comptroller Elaine Phillips’ Office Saved Nassau County $2.62 Million
Among the most important functions of the Comptroller’s Office are monitoring how the County’s money is spent and conducting audits. Recently, the two functions converged when auditors from the Comptroller’s Office conducted a review of the County's payments to Nassau Health Care Corporation (NHCC) over a ten-year period for the County’s portion of certain benefits for employees and retirees of Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) and A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility.
The review revealed that Comptroller’s adjustments to the amount due saved the County $2.62 million between 2014 - 2023.
Because NUMC used to be a Nassau County facility, the County is responsible for a portion of termination pay and health insurance premiums for employees who worked for the County but were transferred into the NHCC system when the County transferred the hospital back in 1999. It’s a diminishing liability, as employees retire and pass away, but for now, the County is billed for its portion by NHCC.
The Comptroller’s auditors routinely check all invoices for accuracy prior to the County paying the bills. They disallow any inappropriate or incorrect charges and adjust the payment accordingly. In the case of NHCC, disallowances related to timing (billing too soon), eligibility (for Medicare or Disability), and other criteria.
In addition to saving the County money, the Comptroller’s process of identifying and highlighting billing issues has led to important improvements in NHCC’s billing process, which have significantly reduced the number of discrepancies and disallowances in recent years.
Since NHCC’s accounting staff began coordinating with the Comptroller’s Office to improve its billing process, disallowances have dropped:
- From an average of 800 disallowances totaling approximately $409,206 per year,
- To an average of 237 disallowances per year with an average annual total of $137,270.
Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips is committed to protecting taxpayer dollars through diligence, attention to detail, and improvement of processes. Her audits yield real results and have constructive, tangible outcomes.
 UNCLAIMED FUNDS: Every Day, New York State Returns About $1.5 Million to its Rightful Owners
Comptroller Phillips hosts workshops to help Nassau County residents find out if they have unclaimed funds available to them.
The Comptroller is happy to partner with community organizations to get the word out. If you have a civic, chamber, parents, seniors or other community group and would like to request a workshop, email NCcomptroller@nassaucountyNY.gov.
To learn more about Unclaimed Funds, visit https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/5752/Unclaimed-Funds
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Comptroller Elaine Phillips Celebrates Arbor Day with Village of Baxter Estates
Comptroller Elaine Phillips joined Mayor Nora Haagenson, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, and residents in the Village of Baxter Estates to celebrate Arbor Day—recognizing the community’s ongoing commitment as a proud Tree City USA. This designation reflects a shared dedication to environmental stewardship and the preservation of our natural resources.
The event featured a generous seed giveaway, empowering residents to take simple but impactful steps toward a greener future right in their own backyards. Together, we are planting the seeds of sustainability—building healthier communities through collective action and environmental responsibility.
Want to learn more about what it takes to become a Tree City USA or find out if your community is one? Visit arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.
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