I am interested if anyone has gone through the process of moving their loved one from a nursing facility in one state while on Medicaid to another facility in a different state. My mother had been a lifelong resident of one state up until seven years ago when she moved to Florida where she became a resident. A couple years ago she had hip surgery which became infected, and she ended up having to go to a nursing home as she could no longer walk. She has no family anywhere near Florida, and I don't see her condition ever changing where she could live independently. I, being her son would like to have her move back closer to me in the Northeast where she came from so I and other family members can visit her. One of the many problems centers around Medicaid. She would need to have Medicaid in a different state than Florida and you need to be a resident to apply from what I understand. The other issue is finding a suitable bed in a state that has a terrible waitlist already. Has anyone tried to go about this process with a Medicaid patient? I can't afford over $10K a month even for a short term placement and she naturally doesn't have any assets due to her already being on Medicaid in Florida.
Usually the whole processes are so daunting that it is flat not feasible unless the family has the ability to private pay cover the costs for safe transportation from the NH to wherever she is going into in your State and then private pay for maybe 2-3 months in the new NH as that’s probably the amount of time needed to get whatever needed to make her a legal resident in the new State IF you are already an existing POA with full authority and you already have the ability to do banking for her. If she is pretty cognitive and competent all on her own to some degree (or can appear to be, lol) doing what needed will be way waaaaaay easier.
If she has NOT made current NH her representative payee for her SSA income, this too will make things easier. As the new NH know they can get her SSA income for the required Share of Cost as of day 1 of her move in. BUT If she has, buckle up buttercup, as SSA does not accept POA. She would have to initiate. Then old NH would have to e..v..e..n..t..u..a…l..l..y do a payback of her monthly SSA they received till the switch over is done by SSA.
FWIW MediCARE is not going to pay ambulance or any other transfer costs for this as it is a by choice move. Transpo could be super expensive if at all medically dependent for care, e.g. O2, specialized medications, 2 person transfer, etc. so that she actually needs to have a RN or a CNA or an aide accompany her on the treck. Ideally hire a staffer from her current NH to do this as she knows them and they know her. Then you pay for their flight back.
HOWEVER, as a thought, is where she is located at all in 1 of the FL counties now declared a post Hurricane federal disaster zone???? If so, I’d try to see if FL is doing waivers with other States to take an existing eligible on FL LTC Medicaid as a transfer custodial care resident to a similar Nh with an open LTC Medicaid bed in your State. This was done after Hurricane Katrina. Mainly was LA to TX NH (my MIL had this as her NH evacuated to Houston along with seemingly most of NOLA). But some went up to other States. Federal $ went for doing this, probably was via FEMA $. For TX, it was right after month 6, that letters started going out from State of TX to the evacuees. LSS they had to make a decision as to whether staying and then filling out the TX paperwork or moving back. MIL stayed and she had no assets back in NOLA, so all good. Fwiw for some who had a home back in LA, they had to move back because they still had a home in Louisiana, and they had no plans on putting it up For Sale, so home as considered a nonexempt asset for a TX Medicaid application so they’d be ineligible. Email the administrator of the NH she is in, and FL LTC Medicaid in Tallahassee as well to ask if anything like this is happening. The Nh may be ok physically but often there are staffing problems, so jettisoning residents is a good thing. Fwiw the window for doing a lot of the programs after a disaster is super narrow.
I know when I was touring places for my MIL I did look in NJ while she lives in NY. The facilities told me they would handle the process I would just need to get the required documents.
Give them a call and ask for a counselor you can speak to about moving Mom from Medicaid in another state. Hopefully, given she has already qualified in one state, there's a way for some reciprocity in getting her qualified upon moving.
Is there a social worker available in the facility where your mom is currently. She may give you guidance.
I do know that we frequently get questions here about moving elders to another state, but I have not seen a lot of ANSWERS from those who have actually done it. And that sad fact is that EACH STATE is different in terms of their Medicaid rules; therefore even if someone has done this state to state move, it won't mean a while lot to your individual move.
Sure wish you luck. Hope you will let us know what you find out as that is the hope of this Forum, that we can learn and inform as well as ask. Again, good luck.
I did a lot of planning and preparation before making the move from Minnesota to Arizona 5 years ago with my husband who is non-ambulatory and has vascular dementia as a result of a stroke.
You will need to notify the Medicaid office in Florida of the exact date she is leaving the state. You can do this on the day or the day after she leaves. They will terminate her medicaid services. Keep in mind, she can be out of state for up to 30 days without losing her benefits, if she were to return.
Next, call the department of health and human services in the county which you plan on moving her to. Explain the situation and let them know you plan on applying for medicaid for her as soon as she arrives in the state.
The trickier part, which I did not have to deal with, is getting her admitted to a new nursing home. A doctor's order or referral may be needed. I'm not sure.
So, check that out in advance as well. You can set up a meeting with an admissions director at a few different facilities to get your questions answered and to check the place out and select the most favorable for your mother.
Is there a family member with whom she could stay in the short term, if a bed is not available in a facility? Have a plan B in case everything doesn't go as planned. She may have to live with you or some other arrangement for a while.
Are you prepared for that?
If there is a bed available, you may have to get her admitted right away and pay out of pocket, pending medicaid approval in your state. Does she have assets to pay the costs? Did she buy a home in Florida? That could be sold or rented out for income to help ease costs during the transition.