New Medicaid feature to reduce future nursing home enrollees

[TexasTowelie]

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Years in the making, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's administration is rolling out a new Medicaid feature that's designed to reduce the future number of enrollees in nursing homes and, along with it, a fast-growing expense in a state where the elderly population is exploding.

The program takes effect Jan. 1 in 14 southwestern counties. A launch is planned in 2019 for Philadelphia and its four collar suburban counties and in 2020 for the remaining 48 counties across central and northern Pennsylvania.

It is perhaps the biggest change in Pennsylvania's $30 billion Medicaid program since 2015, when income eligibility guidelines expanded at the close of Republican Gov. Tom Corbett's administration to include hundreds of thousands of low-income adults.

This shift means insurers will be paid to manage Medicaid's long-term care services, with a financial incentive to get enrollees the nursing care and services they need in a home, where it is half as expensive as a nursing home.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20171210_ap_132875a01fae4028878a561fafe74474.html

[blue neen]

1. It helps people stay in their homes longer.

I think that's a good thing.

[dembotoz]

2. In Wisconsin I think we have somewhat similar program

Care needs to be taken that if state funds are used the estate is not billed for reimbursement after death. Kinda a mine field.... caretakers think they are being responsible until the bill comes

[Scarsdale]

3. One thing is certain,

there HAS to be a way for the gop to enrich themselves from any program they install. Scott Walker, Lyin' Ryan and others are all lining their pockets. The only people the gop cares for are themselves.

[Freddie]

4. Usually when Medicaid pays for the nursing home

There is no "estate" left.

[dembotoz]

8. With the use of trusts and planning some estate can be protected.

The state program gets around some protections.
There are things that Medicare will cover. Care must be taken to understand who pays for the options when presented.
In the case oh my mom, staying in the hospital was covered by Medicare, the home health care option not nearly as much.just saying buyer beware

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Cannibalizing the Families

the Lawyer - Medicare - Medicaid - State - Federal Cartel will seek to clean out any and every family if they can.

Don't listen to any of them. There is an age and a time to shrink one's assets lest the state-industry grinds you up.

Don't let it happen to you. Age 70 or over? Don't be imprudent, but spend, and support your offspring and charity belief
system if you are so inclined.

[enough]

6. And then let the "State - Federal Cartel" that you despise so much take care of you? NT

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Die broke

and pay no taxes .... many states still have estate/inheritance taxes, and they will make you spend down your assets to pay for nursing home care before they will kick in a dime.

Of course you prefer to contribute to the state, so go ahead. Give them everything for the same care the state will eventually pay for if you live long enough.

You only own your assets when the Cartel doesn't take them.

[FakeNoose]

9. Not everyone can do that

Not everyone has children or other family members living close by that they can rely on. I don't think it's a good idea to leave yourself wide open either, there are leeches who are looking for ways to take advantage. But in most cases, family members who are trustworthy and willing to help - those people are the best option.

In my family we have a situation where one sister is handicapped (dementia) and completely unable to care for herself. Another sister has given up her job, her social life and just about everything else to provide 24/7 care for the handicapped sister. My handicapped sister receives a monthly disability check that they both live on, because my other care-giving sister can't leave the house to go to a job. So what happens when Trump puts an end to SS disability transfers, which he said he'd do? My care-giving sister hasn't worked for more than 10 years, so she may not even qualify for her own social security, and she has no medical insurance of her own.

I think my point is, my sister is a saint to do this, but most families don't have a saint who's willing and able to give up everything for care-giving. It shouldn't be a reason for the government to take us to the cleaners.