I have a parent who was in a nursing facility which we were not happy with at the time. Dad contracted sepsis and was hospitalized after our family insisted on having a transport take him. We have moved dad to another facility and the previous facility is asking for a debt owed. My father is Medicaid approved and Social Security has been received by the nursing home without authorization. My father does collect a pension but he does have a living wife. Does anyone know if this is protocol for nursing facilities to ask for debt being owed? My father was receiving a VA benefit while he was at home but since he was taken to a nursing facility, the benefit ended. The PR1 form discloses that he receives this benefit from VA which he does not since he was admitted. Very confusing but any insight would help at this point.
You specifically shouldn’t be charged but your father would have been.
Whether you decide to file a lawsuit or not, is another matter. Medicaide would get any monies they paid out of any settlement, and the attorney can address losing Medicaid because of too much assetts.
From https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-08-2011/paying-for-nursing-homes-ask-the-experts.html:
"If you receive a monthly Social Security benefit, it would go directly to the facility for your care once you are on Medicaid. However, you would be allowed to keep a small allowance for personal items."
So, the "authorization" to receive SS income is built in.
Other results I clicked on implied that once you are approved for SS, you are "approved" for Medicaid (however that may just be SSI, not SS.) Regardless, Medicaid has to be applied for and assets spent down (or split with spouse) per your own state's requirements.
One other thing to note: I had to sign up as rep payee for mom's SS. Among all the paperwork and information they sent along with the approval is notice that if the recipient dies, that month's SS will be TAKEN BACK! In mom's case, if that were to happen after they facility cashes the check, there won't be anything there to take! I suspect I would get a call or notice by mail that it must be paid back... :-( In your case, it is possible that SS took back the funds for the month that he moved.
I would certainly take the time to have a face-to-face discussion with the old NH, where they provide you with DETAILS. No details, no $! The VA benefits, from what I also read, go away when Medicaid is approved, so they are wrong there. If they say no, here is the proof you can give them:
https://www.veteransaidbenefit.org/aid_and_attendance_pay_nursing_home.htm
"Retaining VA Benefits and Imputed Income
VA will not pay anything more than $90 a month if a single veteran or single surviving spouse is eligible for Medicaid covered nursing home care. State veterans homes are exempt from this ruling."
If the SS funds were withdrawn, they should be able to show that (or you could contact local SS office to inquire) - if it was taken back, it should be applied to the new NH.
I really don't understand how they can take back the whole month's payment though - what if the recipient moved or died near the end of the month?? They should be able to keep most of it!!!
Also, make sure SS/Medicaid knows he has moved, and the date.
Check with a Social Worker at the facility Dad is now in. But like any Business, They are looking to get paid.
If Dad was getting Aid and Attendance, no he can't get that and Medicaid too. A member has mentioned that he could receive $90 for his Personal Needs Account from A & A but that is all.
Was Dad in the NH for rehab at one point and then transitioned to LTC? Was he Medicaid Pending?
I just found out a friend, who is in LTC, was placed the last few days of August. Medicaid did not pick up his care until Sept 1. He owes $800 for the days of August.
Like I said, you need to sit down with the NH and find out why they owe. Then go from there. Come back when u find out someone maybe able to help.
You need to sit down with the former NH and see if things were done correctly. Takes a while for Medicaid to start paying if Dad qualified.