Medicaid provides free health coverage to those whose income falls within their state’s medically needy standards. Coverage is retroactive up to three months before the applicant applies. The best guide to finding Medicaid consulting firms.
Long-term post-acute care (LTPAC) facilities face many obstacles, from rising Medicaid reimbursements and regulatory requirements to rising operating expenses. PCG provides insight, expertise, and tailored Medicaid solutions that help address these hurdles.
Public Benefits Counselors / Case Managers
Public Benefits Counselors are state-trained individuals who offer assistance to people needing help understanding public benefits such as Medicare and Medicaid. Most often, volunteers these advisors should only be utilized when candidates know for sure that they meet financial limits to qualify; these counselors often work exclusively with people living in nursing homes or board and care residences.
Counselors’ jobs encompass three essential activities: information, assistance, and advocacy. More specifically, they must provide accurate information about available government programs, help individuals through application procedures, advocate for services that will enable them to meet their stated goals more efficiently, and regularly review and revise case management plans so that they reflect an assessment of recipient needs.
Insurance agents who specialize in Medicaid planning may also offer guidance. These individuals typically sell certain policies that help lower an individual’s assets to meet eligibility guidelines while providing free help with applications. However, an agent’s primary goal may not always align with that of his or her customers or their families’ best interests.
Additionally, several organizations provide support for individuals seeking to file an appeal regarding the denial or termination of a Medicaid application. These groups usually have access to an abundance of resources and may be able to refer people seeking appeal assistance to attorneys with expertise in handling them. Families need help developing and implementing effective recordkeeping strategies for submitting income statements and other documentation to appropriate agencies, like DVR or other entities. Furthermore, they provide suggestions about setting a schedule to review and revise case management plans as necessary with any changes to recipient statuses.
Geriatric Care Managers
Geriatric Care Managers (GCMs) are social workers or nurses with extensive training in providing care for older adults. They serve as private advocates and guides for family members who want to ensure their elderly loved ones are receiving optimal care but whose incomes preclude eligibility for publicly financed services.
Care coordination services provide an array of in-home and community-based services, such as care coordination, assessment, planning, consultation, and advocacy. In addition, they help clients navigate a complex web of local resources to locate services tailored specifically for them.
Geriatric Care Managers (GCMs) also act as mediators to negotiate on behalf of their clients when two parties disagree or encounter conflict or disagreements. For example, when a daughter believes her mother’s driving abilities aren’t safe enough and wants to revoke the car keys, the discussion often becomes heated and ends in deadlock. A GCM can bring a fresh perspective and offer real-world solutions that address safety concerns while giving seniors some experience outside the home.
GCMs can assess seniors’ current living arrangements and assist them with exploring potential housing solutions and finding suitable homes. Furthermore, they assist their clients in setting up and monitoring in-home support services, administer medication oversight, and arrange transportation or respite care if required.
When selecting a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM), be sure to inquire about their education and experience. Most have formal backgrounds in nursing, counseling, or gerontology and should also have relevant certifications. A reliable GCM should be willing to provide client references and provide a fee structure that includes initial assessments.
Geriatric Care Management can offer families peace of mind when caring for elderly loved ones; Welkin’s Care Management software offers an easy and flexible solution, featuring customizable dashboards, automated communication features, and at-a-glance patient overviews to meet these challenges.
Certified Medicaid Planners
Certified Medicaid Planners are trained professionals who understand all of the nuances associated with Medicaid eligibility and can assist their clients with planning strategies. Typical backgrounds of Certified Medicaid Planners may include law, finance, accounting, social work, or geriatric care management – making them the perfect solution for people whose initial means exceed eligibility but who may not have access to professional legal advice or accountant services. They’re perfect for people whose financial means initially make qualifying too high but who are unable to afford either their legal fees or professional CPA services.
CMPs can assist clients by analyzing their assets and income to devise techniques to safeguard their money and property while meeting Medicaid eligibility criteria. These techniques could include creating trusts or gifting money or assets in accordance with applicable regulations. They will also be able to assist in the Medicaid application process and represent clients at fair hearings.
Even though many believe they can save money by navigating the Medicaid system themselves, this is often not true. Rules and guidelines change frequently, making professional assistance essential in order to avoid costly errors while fulfilling eligibility criteria for individuals or families applying.
Marriage-oriented CMP services can be especially advantageous to couples since each spouse can only keep certain countable assets. A skilled CMP can create strategies that enable both spouses to qualify for Medicaid quickly by transferring assets into irrevocable funeral trusts; not only will this allow their family members to gain Medicaid benefits faster, but it will also keep their loved ones from having to spend their own money for long term care services.
Though non-attorney Medicaid planners have become more prevalent, it is vitally important that clients select an experienced professional to assist in the complex planning process. A Certified Medicaid Planner must not only advise clients on their options and help navigate legal system complexities related to Medicaid eligibility requirements but must also understand state laws and regulations as they relate to eligibility criteria. Those not licensed as attorneys should avoid providing advice or preparing legal documents related to Medicaid planning as many states prohibit this unauthorized practice of law, and there have been instances when non-attorney Medicaid planners were prosecuted due to such activities.
Friends for Life
Friends for Life can assist with mental health crises by offering an anonymous reporting service available via hotline, website, and mobile app operated by Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County. Specifically designed to serve students who wish to report bullying, cyberbullying, sexting, dating, or family violence, gang activity, self-harm, or suicidal tendencies they see among peers, this call center staffed by volunteers will remain confidential, with any information you share is stored securely until appropriate, action being taken against perpetrators.
This program aims to promote emotional well-being while relieving caregiver burdens. Therapists work directly with children and their parents to identify emotional problems that could compromise normal development, train social skills and coping strategies, foster better peer relationships among children, and teach them how to cope with feelings such as fear or sadness more effectively. Therapists are trained to recognize symptoms of depression or anxiety while offering safe environments in which children can express their emotions openly.
Friends For Life offers expert Medicaid consultants in New York who will guide you step by step through the application process to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible and that your application is approved expediently. They understand that this can be complex and challenging, which is why their firm employs specialists who will review your application thoroughly before answering any of your queries or taking the time to address any concerns or queries that arise during its review.
This company provides an all-encompassing Medicaid planning service, from initial consultation and assessment of eligibility and finances to developing a plan tailored specifically for you. Their staff of experts has experience planning for Medicaid benefits in each state’s specific regulations; they can advise you on the best course of action to protect assets while qualifying for long-term care benefits and help guide the application process with ease.
