The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Issue Guidance for Nursing Home Visitation
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Issue Guidance for Nursing Home Visitation
Revised guidance for nursing home visitation has been issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). It is now possible to have visitation with nursing home residents for reasons other than urgent end-of-life scenarios and, in some instances, may include physical touch. Additionally, communal activities and dining are permissible as long as the social distancing rule of 6 feet of separation, and other precautions are observed. Encouraging outdoor visits is desirable as long as the weather permits. Indoor visits are permissible if no new cases were identified in the previous two weeks, and the facility adheres to the core principles of resident and staff testing, screening, proper hygiene, social distancing, and facility cleaning.
The CMS memo contains “Core Principles of COVID-19 Infection Prevention” verbatim as follows:
- Screening of all who enter the facility for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., temperature checks, questions or observations about signs or symptoms), and denial of entry of those with signs or symptoms
- Hand hygiene (use of alcohol-based hand rub is preferred)
- Face covering or mask (covering mouth and nose)
- Social distancing at least six feet between persons
- Instructional signage throughout the facility and proper visitor education on COVID19 signs and symptoms, infection control precautions, other applicable facility practices (e.g., use of face-covering or mask, specified entries, exits, and routes to designated areas, hand hygiene)
- Cleaning and disinfecting high frequency touched surfaces in the facility often, and designated visitation areas after each visit
- Appropriate staff use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Effective cohorting of residents (e.g., separate areas dedicated COVID-19 care)
- Resident and staff testing conducted as required.
CMS acknowledges that the previous months of severe visitor restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 were at a high cost to nursing home residents’ overall wellbeing. The revision of visitor guidance compassionately addresses resident care needs beyond protection from the coronavirus. CMS Administrator Seema Verma states, “While we must remain steadfast in our fight to shield nursing home residents from this virus, it is becoming clear that prolonged isolation and separation from family is also taking a deadly toll on our aging loved ones.”
CMS is also making available Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) funds to ensure greater and safer access to outdoor and indoor visits. The money can purchase tents for outdoor interaction and clear dividers such as plexiglass can create physical barriers, reducing the risk of transmission during in-person visits. Funding through CMP can also provide communication aids such as tablet devices and webcams that enable virtual visits. However, each facility has a limit of $3,000 to ensure a balance in distributing CMP funds.
Compassionate care situations now include more than the end-of-life scenarios and are also included in the CMS memo. Verbatim they include but are not limited to:
- A resident, who was living with their family before recently being admitted to a nursing home, is struggling with the change in environment and lack of physical family support.
- A resident who is grieving after a friend or family member recently passed away.
- A resident who needs cueing and encouragement with eating or drinking, previously provided by family and/or caregiver(s), is experiencing weight loss or dehydration.
- A resident, who used to talk and interact with others, is experiencing emotional distress, seldom speaking, or crying more frequently (when the resident had rarely cried in the past).
In addition to family members, compassionate care visits may now also include clergy or laypersons offering religious or spiritual support that meet the resident’s needs. Personal contact is permissible during these and family visits but only when following all appropriate infection prevention guidance. This more humanized approach to nursing home care encourages facility staff to work with residents, families, caregivers, and resident representatives to identify those in need of in-person compassionate care visitation. Exceptions to compassionate visits occur when facilities have experienced COVID-19 infections within the past two weeks or when a county is experiencing a high positivity COVID-19 rate. In the absence of a reasonable safety or clinical cause, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid make clear that failure of nursing homes to facilitate in-person visitations can be cause for citations and other penalties as CMS deems appropriate.
CMS understands that nursing home residents derive physical, emotional, and spiritual value and support through family and friend visitations, especially in trying times. No one should be made to endure this pandemic alone, least of all the most vulnerable among us. This new CMS nursing home visitation guidance is designed to help American seniors remain happier, stronger, and more resilient in the face of adversity through the personal support of those who love them most.
If you have a loved one in a nursing home, check with the facility to see how or whether their visitation guidelines have changed. It may take time for local facilities to consider these new guidelines and make changes that are consistent with the recommendations from CMS.
We would be happy to discuss any questions you have, including how to choose appropriate long term care and how to pay for it. We can recommend legal ways to help ease the cost of long term care and protect your savings and home. Simply give us a call at 1.800.660.7564 or email us at info@covertlaw.com.
The Difference Between Medicare and Medicaid
The Difference Between Medicare & Medicaid
Most people who work in healthcare may recognize the acronym LASA, which stands for “look-alike-sound-alike” and is usually seen when referencing medications. When it comes to federal programs, Medicaid and Medicare, in written form, look alike and they do sound alike but work very differently.
Both Medicare and Medicaid were started in 1965 under Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration in response to the inability of older and low-income people to purchase private insurance. Medicaid is an assistance program, funded federally and at the state level, that provides coverage for health care to low-income individuals regardless of age. It is governed federally with each state administering its own plan, which can vary from one state to the next. Medicare is a federal insurance program that provides health coverage for people aged 65 and over or to those under age 65 with a severe disability such as end-stage renal disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Dependents are not typically covered.
Medicaid eligibility is needs-based, meaning both income and assets are counted when determining eligibility. Both Medicare and Medicaid will cover a broad range of health care services, including hospital stays and physician office visits, yet Medicaid will cover nursing home care, in-home care services, long term care, and transportation to receive medical care which Medicare will not pay for. It is possible to qualify for dual coverage, which means both Medicare and Medicaid will work together to provide health care coverage and lower costs.
Regarding cost, Medicaid in most instances is free of cost though a small copay may be required depending on the plan. Medicaid can also recover against assets in a recipient’s estate after the death of the recipient. This could mean a lien is placed and executed on a recipient’s home, depending on whether a surviving spouse or blind or disabled child is residing in the home. Medicare is not free in that premiums and co-payments may be required for some parts of Medicare, and may be larger for those with a higher income, but eligibility is not income-based.
With Medicare, one has to work for about 10 years (40 qualifying quarters), at which point no premiums are required for Part A, which covers hospitalizations. Premiums may be necessary if you sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan, which is different from Original Medicare where you are permitted to purchase supplemental coverage for out of pocket costs. Because Medicare is not administered by each state, a Medicare recipient will usually have the same coverage and pay the same copays and deductibles regardless of the state of residence. Co-pays and deductibles are required for Medicare’s Part B (outpatient services) and Part D (medication) plans. Also, a financial penalty can be assessed if one does not sign up for Medicare Part B when you first become eligible, and there may be a delay in getting coverage.
Though basic differences are covered here, there is much more information to know regarding both plans, so research is encouraged before you hit the age of eligibility for Medicare to determine which Medicare plan may be right for you. Medicaid plans and coverage differ from state to state, and sometimes county to county. We would be happy to answer any questions you have about your potential eligibility for either program. Just give us a call at 1.800.660.7564 or email us at info@covertlaw.com.
Sources:
www.nerdwallet.com/blog/investing/difference-medicare-medicaid/
www.eligibility.com/Medicaid/what-services-does-medicaid-cover.pdf
www.Medicare.gov/sites/default/files/2018-09/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf
Medicare and Medicaid: Unlocking the Mystery
Medicare and Medicaid: Unlocking the Mystery
Medicare and Medicaid have long been a mystery to many consumers. In fact, it can baffle and confuse even some of the smartest citizens. Like me, you might have thought, “I don’t need to worry about this right now.” However, it is never too early to gain a little understanding and awareness that just might help you help an aging loved one or yourself down the road. As the saying goes, “Time flies.”, and you will be there sooner than you think. Let’s break it down and learn some of the differences and basics of Medicare and Medicaid to unlock the mystery.
Medicare
Medicare is a health insurance program provided through the federal government. In order to receive Medicare, a person must meet certain requirements. A person must be 65 years old or older or have a severe disability. In order for a disabled person under the age of 65 to be eligible for Medicare, they must have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for two years. In order to be eligible a person must have Social Security retirement benefits or Social Security disability benefits. Because Medicare is run and administered by the federal government, it is uniform from state to state. If a person meets Medicare eligibility requirements, they can receive Medicare no matter their income or assets. Costs for Medicare are based on the recipient’s work history. This means that costs are determined by the amount of time a person paid Medicare taxes. These costs like all insurance include premiums, copays, and prescriptions.
Medicare can be confusing because there are four parts. The commercials talk about Parts A, B, C, D. What does it all really mean? Parts A, B, and D can be somewhat simplified. Part A is hospital insurance, Part B is medical insurance, and Part D is prescription drug coverage. Parts A and B are covered in Original Medicare offered by the government. Part C is often called the Medicare Advantage Plan. This is a private health plan. The Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Part C plan are required to include the same coverage as Original Medicare but usually also include Part D as well. It is important to do your homework on these plans to find what works best and is most cost effective for you.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a health care assistance program. Its guidelines come from the federal government, but it is administered by each state. Medicaid is for people who cannot afford to pay for their care on their own. It is based on income and assets, and is available to people who belong to one of the eligible groups. The eligible groups are children, people with disabilities, people over age 65, pregnant women, and the parents of eligible children. Seniors who require nursing home care can qualify for Medicaid and only pay a share of their income for the nursing home. Medicaid then pays the rest.
Dual Eligibility
A person can be eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid and can have both. The two programs work together to help the recipient best cover the expenses of health care. For example, Medicare costs include premiums, copays, and deductibles. Full Medicaid benefits can cover the costs of Medicare deductibles and cover the 20% of costs not covered by Medicare. Medicaid can also help with Medicare assistance and may cover costs of premiums for Part A and/or Part B.
Although Medicaid and Medicare can be quite confusing, it is important at a minimum to know the basics. When you or someone you love is eligible or in need of the benefits, there are organizations willing to help and your elder law attorney is also a valuable resource.
If you have any questions about something you have read or would like additional information, please feel free to contact us.
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