We are in a financial and logistical pickle and really need for my mom to have a safe, active happy place in an assisted living environment that will accept Medicaid right away without spend down. So far, everyone has a wait list or spend down. I am willing to move her around the state I don't want to call each one. I also would like to see what is available in other states. Can I do that?
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That magical creature DOES NOT exist. Again DOES NOT EXIST!
If mom still has assets, they will need to be spent down on her care or her needs so that she is at Medicaids financial maximum (2k in non exempt assets for an individual & within whatever her state has as the maximum monthly income) before she would ever be eligible for LTC facility Medicaid.
She cannot - as an individual- have assets beyond that and be eligible for LTC Medicaid. Medicaid = Impoverished
Medicaid does NOT have to pay for AL.
Medicaid has required dedicated funding from the feds for skilled nursing care aka a NH. AL may or may not be paid by Medicaid as it’s done by a waiver program with the terms set by your state. WA state would determine what waivers & where. If they do, then AL because it’s via a waiver has lots less facilities interested in participating as waivers change, are time limited in funding, etc. (stuff that causes uncertainty). If an AL can fill beds easily with private pay residents there is no reason financially to ever have Medicaid waiver beds.
You may find if mom can qualify medically for skilled nursing care, it may be easier to get an open NH bed than an AL bed. But Medicaid spend down still is required.
In my experience, the “Medicaid Pending” route might MIGHT be feasible if the NH determines that her Medicaid application appears in order and all documentation needed by the state are there and in a quick review by the NH that on the surface there appears to be no looming transfer penalty issues. For both my mom & mil, each of the NHs took the Medicaid documentation stack and Medicaid application and bundled it along with their bill to the Medicaid caseworker assigned to the facility. The NH decided if a “Pending” was ok by them otherwise it would have been private pay with a signed contract. If Medicaid Pending, then each month, the mom’s monthly income less a $60 personal needs allowance each was paid to the NH as the required copay or SOC (share of cost) requirement for Medicaid. Being on Medicaid means basically their impoverished with only extra $ the monthly PNA. That’s it.
Why the hesitation or issue with your mom doing the spend down???
If she’s at the point in needing to live in a facility, to me, she is past the point of doing ANY creative financial planning with her $$. That ship has sailed.
Please please realize that if there’s anything amiss that could cause a transfer penalty for her Medicaid application, it will surface. If this is part of the hesitation in the spend down, schedule an appt with a WA state NAELA or CELA level elder law attorney ASAP to see how to best approach. Applying for Medicaid allows the state to get an all access pass to mom’s life and $ history. Any $$$ shifted about improperly will surface eventually.....
If this is what’s what, your choices are stark.... you private pay for her care, or you move her to your home, or have her become a ward of the state of WA with a state appointed guardian. If there’s financial improprieties, the guardian has to look into these and seek restitution if feasible.
It seems to have a pretty comprehensive list.
Not all states have programs whereby Medicaid pays for AL.
That's where you have to start. And Medicaid is a state program. Does not cross state lines.
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Medicaid does. Have you applied? What are your mom's financial resources to pay for care?
If you call a facility and you mention MEDICARE paying for mom's care, they are going to get off the phone with you because your are clearly NOT understanding how this all works.
If Mom DOESN'T YET have Medicaid, you are looking for a MEDICAID PENDING bed, if that helps.
Won’t your family member’s discharge planner help you find a local facility?
I am not sure your request is reasonable for anyone to do except you.
The rehab center will either discharge her home or to a Nursing home pending insurance authorization.
Medicare doesn’t pay for long term care. Medicaid funds nursing home for indigents.
AL is usually private pay.
Work with her dc planner but I don’t think they have the time nor resources to call all nursing homes in your state.
No thank you. It wouldn't help anyway because there are very few if any open spaces which you need to call and find out. Since there's no bed you have to waitlist. Meanwhile, my mom's mental health and stability is not the best and is now asking me when is she getting out of rehab. Getting a list is really easy. Many many many sites have that info for free. Its got names, phone numbers and website URLs that spout off how awesome they are but not the detail you need to be informed.
I hope you take this in the tongue in cheek spirit I am posting. I really do thank you for your time, but the question remains. I'll keep calling.
The "Find Care and Housing" thing is on the right side of your page. I don't know if this shows up in all computer type devices. It does on a desk top computer.
I have also heard about "A place for Mom", I haven't use it so I don't know how they work.
Mom's assets should be used to private pay for a facility that will accept Medicaid after some period of private pay.
As mentioned above, use the search feature in this site.