Orange Park assisted living facility loses Medicaid funding, tenants face eviction

Thirty residents at an assisted living facility in Orange Park are facing eviction.

They are being forced out of the Astoria Assisted Living Facility because Medicaid funding was pulled.

Action News Jax's Courtney Cole spoke to residents who said they’re worried, shocked and upset that they will be forced to leave a place where they have truly enjoyed staying—and on such short notice.

Patrice Cohen said she moved into the Astoria Assisted Living Facility in October 2017.

But after an announcement made on Wednesday by management, she shaid she won't be able to stay much longer.

"We were told, shortly thereafter, that the facility—that Medicaid was being pulled from the facility -- and they were no longer going to be eligible for the subsidy that Medicaid pays on our behalf," Cohen told Action News Jax.

Cohen said without help from Medicaid, she can’t afford the cost of living at the facility.

She will have to be out by June 21.

"It’s very very sad for me and my dog to have to look at other places and begin the search again," said Cohen.

She isn't the only one affected.

“I’ve made some good friends here,” Cohen said.

She told me 65 people live here at the facility and about 30 of them were given notice they have to leave.

"Are we going to be put out on the street? I hope not,” Cohen said.

Henry Mangini, the executive director of Astoria Assisted Living, said he's been trying to work with the Agency for Health Care Administration to figure out what's going on.

“We have sent several inquiries back and received nothing in return except that our contract was terminated as of the 21st of June,” Mangini said.

But in the meantime, he said he will do everything in his power to make sure people aren't left homeless in the street.

The Agency for Health Care Administration said the facility is losing its funding because the owner, Syed Hussein, got into some legal trouble with his second business, Total Lab Care LLC.

As a result of trouble, Hussein made an agreement with the government not to participate in any federal health care programs in future.

The Agency for Health Care Administration said it is working with health plans to relocate residents.

Cox Media Group