My parents have enourmous medical bills. Mother is in a rehab center due to complications following bi-pass surgery. Can I be held responsible for their bills?

With the filial responsibility some states have (and I expect more will soon have) how does this play out? If you are not in a filial responsibility law state I think you are safe, but as advised above, don't sign ANYTHING that you don't fully understand - this is good general life advice.

To my knowledge you can't be held responsible --- just be sure NOT to sign anything to that effect. How old are they and are they on Medicare? have you received the bills? Have the bills gone to insurance? Don't get nervous at the amounts charged, ultimately it is the amount you owe that matters. My husband was in the hospital for 5 days in November. The bills were for $123,700! Most plans have 'out of pocket' maximums. By the time negotiated rates and 2 sets of insurance were processed, we owed zero.

As to YOUR responsibility, unless you signed as the responsible party, these are mom's bills not yours.

Did a CERTIFIED eldercare attorney help you apply. It's more complicated when there is a "community spouse" ( the one not going to the facility) because you need to apply for dad to be able to keep enough resources for him to live on.

Is the care center okay with keeping her "Medicaid pending"?

 Is mom still making progress in therapy, which would mean that Medicare is paying the full rate for the first 20 days. 

After that, mom is responsible for a copay of $157. per day, paid by a mediGap policy if she has one.