Spousal Impoverishment Protections in Medicaid Home Care Program Help All Ages
NAELA has been at the forefront of keeping the Spousal Impoverishment Protections in the Medicaid Home Care Program (HCBS) that were included in the Affordable Care Act. So far, with great effort, it’s working.
It’s important for disabled people who are under 65 and who meet the nursing facility level of care to recognize that these protections are out there. The “level of...
Creating a safe home care plan for a loved one with dementia
For many senior citizens, being able to “age in place” and stay in their home is a really high priority. The obligation to use Medicaid dollars to support aged and disabled individuals in the least restrictive environment has been a cornerstone of federal policy since the Olmstead decision was issued by the Supreme Court in 1999. In addition to that there is the obligation to...
Medicaid annuity planning is alive and well in NJ
When a person applies for Medicaid under the NJ MLTSS program after having made gift transfers during the most recent 5 years, there will likely be a penalty period in which Medicaid will not pay for the care that this person needs (unless the transfers were exempt, such as transfers to a spouse or disabled child). This transfer penalty is mandated by federal law, and the greater the amount...
Reduction of Home Care Hours Under Medicaid Can’t be Arbitrary
New Jersey Family Care is the Medicaid a program that provides MLTSS — Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports. The home care program is called HCBS — Home and Community-Based Services. Once the applicant has been found eligible for Medicaid and is assigned a Medicaid case number, s/he must select a Managed Care Organization (MCO). S/he will then receive a visit from a Case...
Disability Integration Act of 2015 is a pending bill with great promise
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced a bill in Congress that’s designed to ensure that Medicaid-eligible people who are aged or have disabilities can receive their necessary services out in the community through the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services program (HCBS). Aging in Place is what it’s all about. The bill is S-2427 and here it is. The bill has been referred to the...
Reverse Mortgages – useful, but not the only answer to help you stay home
Reverse mortgages are non-recourse loans in which the lender provides funds for the homeowner’s use now, but unlike a conventional mortgage, the loan doesn’t have to be repaid until the homeowner dies or vacates the premises. At that point, the property is sold and the loan is repaid along with the deferred costs and points. AARP has an excellent, easy-to-understand booklet about...
Appealing reduction of home care hours under NJ Medicaid
Has your loved one been receiving home care services under any of the New Jersey Medicaid Home and Community-based programs such as Global Options? The State’s Comprehensive Medicaid Waiver replaced that program with MLTSS – Medicaid Long Term Services and Supports — and each recipient is assigned to a Managed Care Organization (MCO) which performs a care plan assessment and...
NJ Medicaid MLTSS Feedback Forums scheduled in October
You know by now that the New Jersey Department of Human Services has been developing a new Medicaid Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program under its 2013 Comprehensive Medicaid Waiver. It’s still a work-in-progress. This program affects all elderly and disabled Medicaid applicants and Medicaid recipients who need long-term care Medicaid services outside of nursing homes. Three...