5,000 New Low-Income Medicaid Units Planned

NEW YORK CITY-State officials have announced plans to build a total of 5,000 units of low-income housing for Medicaid recipients in Manhattan, the Bronx, Long Island and upstate.

The first phase of the initiative includes a commitment of $46.7 million in capital funds to construct 12 new buildings in the next 24 to 36 months that will create 483 new supportive housing units, as well as $27.9 million in rent subsidies and services to support 4,355 individuals. The buildings will be located at the following locations throughout the state: Creston Avenue (Bronx); Coler-Goldwater/Metropolitan Hospital (Manhattan); Redemption Plaza (Bronx); Savanna Hall (Manhattan); Boston Road (Bronx); 6469 Broadway (Bronx); 3362 Third Ave. (Bronx); Providence Housing Development Corporation (Monroe County); Opportunities for Broome (Broome County); Polish Community Center (Erie County); Mercy Haven (Suffolk County); and Finger Lakes United Cerebral Palsy (Finger Lakes).

The housing construction program is made possible due to Medicaid savings totaling more than $4 billion achieved over the last year under the state's Medicaid Redesign Team initiative, Gov. Andrew Cuomo says. Over the next five years, the state is on track to save a combined $34.3 billion.

"A critical component to improving the health of New Yorkers and containing health care costs is to ensure that an individual's housing needs are also met,'' says state Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah. "By increasing the availability of supportive housing for high-need Medicaid beneficiaries, we will be able to reduce Medicaid costs and improve the quality of care for these individuals.'' See story at nbcnewyork.com.