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Disabled Seniors May Not Be Receiving Necessary Benefits Under Medicaid (Press Release)
For Immediate Release
Alexandria, VA (July 22, 2003) -- Linda was a 51 year old quadriplegic -- paralyzed from the neck down after a terrible accident. Because of a special program through her state Medicaid services, she was able to avoid a nursing home and receive health care services at home. While sounding good in writing, the "self-directed" program meant that Linda, who lived alone, was responsible for finding and hiring her own home health aides. Even with Medicaid footing a portion of the bills she could only afford help 4 hours a day. Worse, shortages of qualified aides and the low Medicaid reimbursements meant that she was constantly searching for help. Aides sometimes quit without notice or didn't show up. Many were not certified to give medications or perform other medical tasks. At night and many weekends, she was totally alone. Finally Linda was found dead -- alone in her home.
"Many of the nation's sickest and poorest seniors, and disabled may be going without necessary services," states George Smith, Chairman of TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL). "Through Medicaid waivers, the federal government has allowed states to make substantial changes to Medicaid, but has not ensured that seniors, the disabled, and other beneficiaries are receiving the services or quality of care they are supposed to receive," Smith continues.
The General Accounting Office (GAO) recently reported that the government has issued a record number of Medicaid waivers. The waivers allow state Medicaid programs to provide "community-based" long-term care alternatives to nursing homes, such as home care and adult day care. Investigators found however, that the government hasn't held states accountable for the quality of care provided, as required by law. States often failed to provide services, and the GAO found "medical and physical" neglect of some Medicaid recipients. (1)
"TSCL has learned of cases where Medicaid recipients appear to have been in settings insufficient for their needs, and there appeared to be insufficient monitoring to ensure basic safety and welfare," Smith notes. "In addition TSCL has growing concerns that the problem could become even more acute under recent Medicaid overhaul proposals that would cap the amount of money states would receive from the federal government," (2) Smith warns.
"With health care costs expected to increase eight times faster than Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) (3), Medicaid rolls will continue to swell as health care costs consume greater shares of senior income," Smith says. "We urge seniors to contact your Members of Congress asking them to ensure reasonable funding for state Medicaid programs and to hold states accountable for quality health care."
TSCL is a national group of politically active seniors concerned about the protection of their earned Social Security, Medicare, military, and other retirement benefits. TSCL members participate in a number of grassroots lobbying and public education campaigns designed to ensure governmental bodies, including the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, live up to their commitments. For more free information on this issue and our organization, please contact TREA Senior Citizens League, Department S606G, 909 N. Washington St., Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314, or visit our website at: www.tscl.org. If at any time you want to stop receiving these press releases, please click on the following link and your name will be taken off our list of e-mail contacts, mailto:unsub@tscl.org. (1) Report Criticizes Federal Oversight of State Medicaid, Robert Pear, New York Times, July 7, 2003.
(2) "Governor's Effort to Revise Medicare Stalls", Ceci Connoly, The Washington Post, June 13, 2003.
(3) Health Plan Increases Are Eight Times Current Inflation Rate, Business Wire, July 7, 2003. Distributed by The Senior Exchange, Inc.
Serving The Mature American With Timely, Low-Cost, Self-Help Information August 2003
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