Medicaid matters to elders and individuals with special needs because it is the only government program providing substantial help paying for long-term care. Yes, some long-term care is paid for by Medicare, but only when there is a skilled need, and usually is limited to no more than 100 days. Although anyone accessing this website can view The Medicaid Book, it is primarily intended for attorneys and other professionals interested in understanding Medicaid. We have other pages on this website written in more general terms for non-attorneys. These materials are presently being written, updated and sections will be published as they become available. Once that is done, we will attempt to keep them as current as possible – but since you’re not paying for this service, we make no promises concerning the regularity of updates. If you have any questions, suggestions or corrections regarding the content, please refer them to david@ezelderlaw.com.
Chapters
- Chapter 1 – Overview of Medicaid
- Chapter 2 – Eligibility Basics
- Chapter 3 – Financial Eligibility, Generally
- Chapter 4 – Issues When there is a Community Spouse
- Chapter 5 – Working with the Client
- Chapter 6 – Planning with Real Property
- Chapter 7 – Planning with Personal Property
- Chapter 8 – The Medicaid Application
- Chapter 9 – Medicaid Fair Hearings
- Chapter 10 – Post-Eligibility Issues
- Chapter 11 – Home and Community Based Waivers
- Chapter 12 – Medicaid Estate Recovery
- Chapter 13 – SSI Eligibility and How it Relates to Medicaid
Appendix
BLOG POSTS
Sometimes You Must Say No
Sometimes you just have to say No “No” isn’t a four-letter word. Saying “no” isn’t necessarily bad and you shouldn’t feel bad when you say it. Part of saying no means taking a stand. It can mean standing up to injustice. For example, our legal system is, for the most part, dependent on people saying […]
Tennessee Justice Center Presents Medicaid Eligibility Boot Camp
On October 24th and 25th, 2023, the Tennessee Justice Center will present its annual two day virtual training event on Medicaid eligibility. This event is designed for health care providers and advocates. Information regarding what’s covered and how to register is below: Medicaid Eligibility Boot Camp – A Virtual Training Event Navigating the Red Tape […]
NEW VIDEO: Medicaid – 2023 Financial Eligibility
We’re just getting to the point where we’re producing videos for EZ Elder Law. There are, after all, only so many hours in the day. This video published on September 17, 2023, runs through basic Medicaid eligibility in Georgia under the 2023 rules. It focuses on nursing home Medicaid and home health Medicaid. Slides for […]
CMS Webinars on Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Renewals
Join the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Renewals webinars focused on special populations. This webinar series will provide partners with strategies to reach out to diverse communities and audiences to share information about Medicaid and CHIP […]
US District Court finds Florida violated ADA with unjustifiable segregation of institutionalized children with medical complexity
In United States v. Florida (Case No. 12-cv-60460-MIDDLEBROOKS/Hunt), decided in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on July 14, 2023, the Court found that unjustified institutionalization of individuals with disabilities is unacceptable. The Court’s opinion included the following case overview: The children at issue here are under 21 years old […]
Leqembi Approved by FDA
The FDA has approved Leqembi (Lecanemab) for patients with mild dementia and other symptoms caused by early Alzheimer’s disease. Approval followed a determination that a confirmatory trial verified clinical benefit. Leqembi is the first amyloid beta-directed antibody to be converted from an accelerated approval to a traditional approval for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. In […]
IRS says “Wait a Minute” on Stepping-up Basis for Assets in Irrevocable Trust
Until recently, the IRS has said little (if anything) regarding whether assets the beneficiary of an irrevocable trust receives get a step up in basis following the Grantor’s death. With issuance of Revenue Ruling 2023-2, that has changed. The IRS has spoken. In RR 2023-2, the IRS posed the following hypothetical which I’ve edited slightly: […]
State May Recoup Medicaid Benefits Incorrectly Paid
In PR v. Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (NJ. App. Div. 6/8/2023), the State was authorized to recover Medicaid benefits incorrectly paid. It was not, however, authorized to play fast and loose by withdrawing a waiver of a portion of its claim as part of the Commissioner’s review. Peter and Uma, an unmarried […]
Administrative decisions and collateral estoppel
The collateral estoppel (issue preclusion) rule is part of the finality doctrine along with Res Judicata (claim preclusion). It general prevents a party from re-litigating the same issue in a second court. In other words, you don’t get a second bite at the apple in another court simply because you were dissatisfied with the result […]
Burial Resources and Life Insurance
The SSI rules are a good beginning point because Medicaid cannot impose rules more restrictive than the SSI rules. SSI excludes burial funds up to the exemption limit which is currently $1,500 for the applicant and the applicant’s spouse. POMS SI 01130.410. Burial funds can be: revocable burial contracts; revocable burial trusts; other revocable burial […]