Medicaid long term care rules outlined for Rotary members

The rules and regulations governing long-term care under Medicaid were outlined for members of the Rayne Rotary Club by two representatives of the Louisiana LTC Processing Unit located in Opelousas.
Carla Bourq began her presentation by noting Medicaid has been in existence about 50 years and its programs provide for the aged, blind, child related and disabled individuals.
The LTC Processing Unit is charged with determining financial eligibility and home based services.
Bourq’s remarks focused primarily on nursing facility care as she noted there are long waiting periods for home based services. For example, she noted the community choice waivers is currently working on a list dated from February 2009.
To meet eligibility standards, an individual’s income is set at $2,199 per month. There are also different level programs for individuals whose income exceeds the $2,199 limit, but that income has to be below the current Medicaid facility rate.
Once approved for long term care, an individual’s income goes to the nursing home facility, with the exception of $38 allowed for personal and payments for any health insurance benefits, such as Medicare supplemental coverage.
When an individual signs a long term care application, he or she agree to an estate recoverage provision.
Under that provision, the state Medicaid program can recover the cost of certain Medicaid payments from the person’s estate.