Obtaining 24 Hour Home Care Through Medicaid Seems Like an Impossible Task

Over the past 9 years, Medicaid long term care plans have made it extremely hard for eligible seniors to receive 24 hour care. One of the biggest reasons why it has become harder to receive 24 hour care is because of the cost incurred on the long term care plans. Many long term care plans. If you have a loved one in need of 24 hour care, there is still hope.
Before we get into the nitty gritty as to how to obtain 24 hour care, please note the 2 important classifications; split shift and live in home care.

Split Shift

Getting a Split Shift typically means you are receiving two 12 hour shifts of home health aids every day. This ensures there is a care taker available and awake who is available to care for the patient or your loved one.

Live In

Live In typically referred to a trained home attendant who lives wit the patient. The home health care worker has to go through specific training. After the competition of the training, they stay with the patient for twenty-four hours. These specialized aids are able to assist patient with bating, eating, going to the bathroom, and provides consistent one on one help on a daily basis.

So Can You Get Medicaid to Pay For 24 Hour Home Care?

The answer is yes, but obtaining an approval for this type of care is not easy. During the assessment from the Medicaid Long Term Care Plan, the patient must be determined that there is an absolute need for the patient to receive 24 hour care, for the hours do get approved. Medicaid Managed Long Term Care Plans do approve 24 hour care from time to time, working along side with a Certified Home Health Agencies who can staff the case and have trained aids that can do the job.
24 Hour Home Care is Usually Approved by Managed Long Term Care Plans
There are over 33 Medicaid Managed Long Term Care Plans in New York City. Keep in mind that some long term care plans are more considerate with their hours than others

Here’s the list of Medicaid Long Term Care Plans:

In Light of This, It Can be Helpful to Seek Guidance From Someone Who Has Experience With Assisting People in Obtaining Home Care Through MLTC

They can steer you in the direction of a MLTC where you will have a better chance of being approved. For example, falling out from bed, or frequently waking up in the middle of the night, or needing a someone to take the patient to the bathroom and the patient is bed bound. Getting a letter from a primary care physician or a geriatric doctor or provider expressing the need for 24 hour care can be extremely helpful.
All in all, always stay positive and never give up. If 24 hour care is deemed necessary, and your demonstrate to the nurse that the your loved one does in fact need 24 hour care, along with a letter from a physician expressing the need for the services, you may end up just getting that 24 hour care you need.

Getting connected with a Long Term Care Specialist or a home care agency who has experience with serving 24 hour cases may help. When getting an assessment from a Managed Long Term Care plan, the nurse who conducts the assessment, and your family plays a vital role. You may have to demonstrate that your loved one in fact does need 24 hour home care