Boy, you wouldn’t want to be in a nursing home in a Medicaid Bed because you’re not going to get the same quality of care as somebody who is there paying for that care privately.
This is simply not a true statement for a number of reasons. The term Medicaid Bed is a financial term and has nothing to do with quality of care. The Nursing Home Reform Act provides protection for that type of discrimination and nursing homes provide the same quality of care regardless of the source of payment.
The only people in the nursing home who know the financial arrangements are those in the finance office, the administrators and the owners. The people in charge of daily care get paid exactly the same regardless of whether somebody is paying privately for their care or is on Medicaid. So, from this practical standpoint, the level of care is the same.
In this Elder Law Minute, Wes Coulson, Illinois and Missouri Elder Law attorney, discusses the misplaced concerns about placing a loved one in a Medicaid Bed and the quality of care they really receive.
Does Being in a Medicaid Bed Mean You Receive Less Care?
Transcript:
Hi, I’m Wes Coulson from Dent-Coulson Elder Law with offices in O’Fallon, Illinois, a few blocks from the new St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and in St. Louis, catty-corner across the street from Westport Plaza. Our elder law minute today is going to talk about something that I think there’s a lot of misplaced concerned about, and that is the idea that: Boy, you wouldn’t want to be in a nursing home on Medicaid because you’re not going to get the same quality of care as somebody who is there paying for that care privately.
That’s just not true for a number of reasons.
First, I want you to understand that the term Medicaid Bed has nothing whatsoever to do with the quality of care. It’s a financial term that simply means that the nursing home will accept Medicaid as a form of payment for someone occupying that bed.
Second, from a legal standpoint, it is against the law, the Nursing Home Reform Act, the nursing home to discriminate against anyone in the provision of services on the basis of their source of payment. So, if that’s occurring, there are remedies to address it.
Finally, I want you to look at this from a practical standpoint and think about the care that someone receives in a nursing home. The administrators, the finance office, are basically the only people on the premises who know how somebody is paying for their care and really the owners are the only ones who care. The people who provide the care, the nurses, the nurses aides, the kitchen staff, everybody who is going to take care of your loved one on a daily basis get paid exactly the same regardless of whether somebody is paying privately for that care or is on Medicaid.
To be honest with you, what has a lot more to do with quality of care is that you learn to get to know those caregivers, treat them nicely and let them know that you appreciate the care that they’re providing for your loved one.
So, don’t have any hesitance about putting a family member in a Medicaid bed. They’re not going to receive a lower quality of care. Thanks.
For more information Medicaid eligibility, visit these articles:
- Medicaid Asset Allowance Increase in Missouri, But Not in Illinois
- Should I Let A Nursing Home Representative Complete My Medicaid Application?
- Does Medicaid Pay for Long-Term Care Other than in a Nursing Home?
“Your Trusted Advisor on the Elder Care Journey”
Dent-Coulson Elder Law is dedicated to providing families in the St. Louis area with their Elder Law needs. Our practice areas include Asset Preservation Planning, Veterans Benefits, Medicaid Eligibility, Alzheimer’s Planning, Special Needs Planning, Estate Planning and more. We understand the financial challenges you may face as you and your loved ones grow older. At Dent-Coulson Elder Law, our clients’ well-being is our number one priority. For immediate help, call (618) 632-7000 or (314) 567-9292, or Contact Us and we will get in touch as soon as possible.
