In order to help aging seniors pay for long-term care, Florida recently implemented its Medicaid Long-Term Care Managed Care (LTCMC) program. This helps qualified seniors get the medical attention they need in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or through a medical attendant who provides at-home health care.
Generally speaking, the program works by first determining a senior’s medical and financial eligibility for care, then enrolling him in one of Florida’s LTCMC plans. The plans, which are run through standard health maintenance organizations (HMOs), are required to cover basic services for the elderly patient, including:
- Accessibility home improvements (such as installation of ramps or other adaptations)
- Adult day care
- Assisted living or nursing facility care
- Case management services
- Caregiver training courses or instruction
- Emergency response devices
- Home nursing care
- Hospice care
- Housekeeping services
- Meal delivery services
- Medical equipment or supplies
- Medication management
- Respite care
- Therapy (such as occupational, physical, respiratory, or speech therapy)
- Transportation services
Depending on the plan chosen, patients may also have a number of other services covered.
What Kind of Assisted Living Facilities Will Medicaid Pay For?
Under Medicaid rules, a home that provides room, board, and personal care services (such as help with bathing and dressing) and provides for your general well-being qualifies as an assisted living facility. Seniors may also get Medicaid to pay for residence in an adult family care home, which is an assisted living facility with fewer than five residents where the owner or operator of the home lives onsite.
In order to get Medicaid to cover these services, families will have to choose a plan that specifically covers the nursing home that the senior plans to attend. Not every facility is covered under every plan, so you should examine your plan carefully to make sure your loved one will get the kind of care he or she needs.
Medicaid for Floridians Needing Home Health Care
In some cases, Medicaid will pay for a nurse or health care aid to come to your elderly relative rather than have a senior move into a nursing facility. This may be an option for seniors who are mobile but need occasional assistance, such as help taking daily medication, doing chores, or bathing.
In most cases, a qualified LTCMC plan will offer home health services in addition to regular benefits. However, in order for Medicaid to pay for a healthcare attendant or personal care aide, your doctor must have authorized the service and can prove that it is medically necessary for your injury, illness, or course of treatment.
We Can Ensure That Your Loved One Gets The Care He Deserves
At Walt Shurden Elder Law, we help seniors and their families plan their futures, ensuring the best of care without losing all of the wealth and property they have worked so hard to attain. To get help with your Medicaid eligibility forms, call our office in Clearwater, FL at 877-241-1230 or email us to have our staff contact you.