About RTHP: https://ilny.us/programs/rapid-transition-housing
The Rapid Transition Housing Program (RTHP) provides a rental subsidy and supportive housing services for vulnerable high-need Medicaid members using a housing first model. RTHP, previously known as Nursing Home to Independent Living (NHIL), is a Medicaid Redesign Team initiative funded by the Department of Health and administered by the New York Association on Independent Living. The program started in four areas of the state: Long Island, Syracuse, New York City, and Rochester. The program is currently expanding to cover all of New York State.
Eligible individuals with one or more documented chronic physical disabilities or have two or more chronic conditions. Participants in the program must be on Medicaid and referred as homeless *high-utilizers.
Referrals will be accepted to the program directly from a hospital, Managed Care Organization (MCO), medical respite, Performing Provider System (PPS), or skilled nursing facility (SNF). You can email referrals to HousingReferral@ilny.org.
The RTHP subsidy will be modeled after the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) and the Olmstead Housing Subsidy program in that the lease will be in the individual’s name, and they’ll be required to pay 30% of their monthly income, less allowances. There will also be funding available for “community transition services,” which include security deposits, moving expenses, utility payments, and household establishment purchases.
NYAIL is partnering with member ILCs to staff Housing Specialists and Independent Living Specialists to provide outreach and assist eligible individuals with RTHP enrollment, unit selection, service planning and linkage to providers as needed.
High utilizer is defined as a Medicaid member who meets one (1) or more of the following criteria in the past 12 months:
• Have two (2) or more inpatient stays within the past 12 months.
• Have five (5) or more emergency department visits in the past 12 months.
• Have four (4) or more emergency department visits and one or more inpatient stays in the past 12 months; and/or
• Qualify as a high Medicaid utilizer by being within the top 20% of Medicaid recipients’ spending relative to the county of fiscal responsibility and target population parameters (e.g. Serious Mental Illness (SMI) recipient in Westchester would have to have base period spending of more than 80% of the SMI Medicaid population in that county).
Zhane Best,
Independent Living Housing Specialist,
Rapid Transition Housing Program (RTHP)
(845)452-3913 Ext. 110
Z.Best@taconicresources.org