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...
What if the Medicaid home care services aren’t provided? part II
Previously I blogged about the problems faced by Medicaid-eligible people living in home and community-based settings when there isn’t a sufficient provider network to provide the services needed to maintain them in their residences, or there is substantial delay in getting the services started. The issue is that the government is obligated to provide the services in the...
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...
Disability Integration Act would mandate that states provide home care services
Senator Chuck Schumer introduced S-2427, the Disability Integration Act, on December 5, 2015, to counteract discrimination in Medicaid funding which is disproportionately allocated towards nursing home services. One effect of the bill could be to force States to allocate funds within their Medicaid budgets for Home and Community-Based Services (MLTSS-HCBS) for Medicaid applicants who can...