Medicaid called asking me if my mother had assets after she was admitted to a rehab facility for wound care/rehab. What can I do?

https://www.medicare.gov/forms-help-resources/identity-theft-protect-yourself
Medicare website states:

*Don’t share your Medicare Number or other personal information with anyone who contacts you by phone, email, or by approaching you in person, unless you’ve given them permission in advance.

*Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will only call and ask for personal information in these situations:
--A Medicare health or drug plan can call you if you’re already a member of the plan. The agent who helped you join can also call you.

--A customer service representative from 1-800-MEDICARE can call you IF YOU CALLED MEDICARE AND LEFT A MESSAGE to have someone call you back. (Thus, Medicaid/Medicare does NOT call you unless you first call them.)

--Only give personal information like your Medicare Number to doctors, insurers acting on your behalf, or trusted people in the community who work with Medicare like your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).

*If someone calls you and asks for your Medicare Number or other personal information, hang up and call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

*If you suspect identity theft, or feel like you gave your personal information to someone you shouldn't have, contact the Federal Trade Commission.

Are you Financial POA or Conservator or Guardian for your Mom? If not, then Medicaid needs to talk to the person who is. Are you Medical/Health POA for your Mom?

If the Wound Care nurse is from a different company than the one that owns the nursing home, then I can see someone from the Wound Care company contacting you for financial information.

Contact the nursing home and ask if they have given your contact information to Medicaid or anyone else before you talk to the Medicaid representative. Better to be safe than sorry.

I have had people call me and ask for my Mom's Medicaid or Medicare information and she has been dead for 3 years. They have also asked for my Medicaid and Medicare information even tho I am not on Medicaid or Medicare.

Sallie08 as far as I have been able to tell from even the worst stories on this forum, Medicaid will not force the sale of your mother's home while there is the slightest prospect of her returning to live in it. Even if the rehab segued into medium term and then permanent placement, all they'd do is put a lien on the house so that when the house is eventually sold their estate recovery program will claim back her care costs.

Do please take Notgoodenough's advice about checking identity - there are an awful lot of low-lifes out there.

She's currently a Medicaid recipient, I don't live with her, just concerned that she may not have a home to come to when she's released.  Not sure if the county is acting to get guardianship of her.  She has Medicare and Medicaid.

I'm not familiar with how Medicaid works, but I thought that short term rehab was covered by Medicare.
Before you give any information over the phone, please make sure that the person calling is indeed a representative from Medicaid.

Is your mother currently a Medicaid recipient? Or does she have an application in process? Are you a resident still living in her home and you're worried about losing a place to live? Is the county acting to get guardianship of your mother? I'm asking these questions in order that you get a more accurate answer to your question.

Also, if she is a Medicaid recipient the county should get whatever assets she has in order to pay for her care. Otherwise it is putting the burden of payment on everyone else (all us other taxpayers). It is only fair that she pay for the care she receives, right?