Florida Nursing Homes

Florida panel rejects federal funds for elderly

The Legislative Budget Commission also approved incentives of $4.5 million and $3 million for two undisclosed businesses considering moving to or expanding in Florida and agreed to consolidate and outsource state e-mail service as a cost-cutting measure.

The panel turned down a $2.1 million federal grant that would have fully paid for administrative costs to pave the way for Florida to receive an additional $35.7 million in federal Medicaid funding. Those dollars would pay for nursing home diversions of disabled and elderly patients over the next five years.

The money was offered this year to Florida and 12 other states as part of the federal health care overhaul law that Florida is challenging in court. They were invited to join 29 states and the District of Columbia, which already participate in the Money Follows the Person demonstration program.

Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, had recommended accepting the grant although he's been a leading opponent of the federal law, but the GOP-majority commission rejected it on a split vote.

Members from the Senate voted 4-3 to accept it, with two Republicans and two Democrats in favor and three Republicans against. The proposal died, though, because House members opposed it on a straight party-line 5-2 vote. Such budget amendments must get approval from both chambers' commission delegations.

Rep. Robert Schenck, a Spring Hill Republican who chairs the House Health and Human Services Committee, said the federal program, which tracks individual patients, is unnecessary and duplicates Florida's existing nursing home diversion efforts.

Commission chairwoman Denise Grimsley, a Sebring Republican who also heads the House Appropriations Committee, agreed.

"I realize that they are federal dollars, but they are also taxpayer dollars," Grimsley said.

Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich of Weston had urged the panel to accept the grant, which was expected to result in about 1,700 nursing home transfers.

"Anyone that is pulled out would save us Medicaid money in the long run," Rich said. "It also would put people in a better place."

The commission's approval is needed for spending authority not included in the annual state budget.

The economic incentives, code-named "Project Equis" and "Project Christmas," won unanimous approval although some members were uneasy about the secretiveness.

Getting Medicaid To Pay for Nursing Home Care in Florida

If you are interested in obtaining Medicaid for nursing home care in Florida, you are in the right place. It is also important to know that you can have substantial assets and still legally qualify for Medicaid. The cost of nursing home care has grown considerably in most of the USA. Florida is no exception. Roughly, the average cost of nursing home care in Florida is at least 00 for a month.

The Need to Hire an Attorney

If you don’t have any resources to pay for nursing home care then you need to make application to the state for Medicaid coverage. You will need to understand the eligibility criteria and submit a correct application. If you are good in decoding the official jargon, you may proceed further and submit the application by yourself. If you don’t have many assets, you may have no problem being approved. If you do have assets above the level allowed those assets could be legally restructured so you would qualify. The chances are you will not be in a situation to do all this by yourself. Probably your best bet is to consult a knowledgeable Elder Law attorney in Florida who does this type of Medicaid planning work routinely. A good attorney could help you legally obtain Medicaid support even if you have substantial assets.

I suggest you go to my website to read more free articles on how to qualify for Medicaid and get the free download of two book chapters. You will be better informed if you do. There is a strong likelihood of obtaining Medicaid for nursing home care in Florida (even with substantial assets), an attorney who knows the Medicaid planning process could make it happen for you.

An Overview Of Medicaid

Medicaid is a healthcare support system, which is jointly funded by both the federal and the state government. Different states have different names for the program. For example, in Florida, and many other states, it is known simply as Medicaid, while in California it is called Medi-Cal.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria vary from state to state. The criteria for obtaining Medicaid for nursing home care in Florida focuses on three aspects: health, income, and assets of the applicant (and any spouse). It is much too complex to go into great detail in this article, but you will find some idea of what the state will look at, so keep reading.

Health

The health of the applicant is assessed by The Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA). Their report determines whether a person will obtain Medicaid or not. If the person is quite ill – like not being able to do even the routine physical activities – he or she may become eligible easily at least from a medical perspective. In addition, the applicant must be undergoing care in one of the approved nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

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