Nursing home costs are very high in Long Island. Because of that, most seniors prefer getting their care at home. Their family member may even be their care giver, so it makes things far much easier and cost-effective. Long Island Medicaid has therefore provided different types of home care for its participants depending on their unique needs.
Note that some types of home care services can only be gotten by enrolling in a Managed Long Term Care (MTLC) plan.
Types of Medicaid home care programs in Long Island
Managed Long-Term Care (MTLC) plans
The MTLC is a Medicaid program established for eligible individuals having chronic diseases and/or disabilities who prefer to get their care at home. The state of Long Island requires Medicaid eligible individuals above 21 who are in need of community based long term care to apply for Managed Long Term Care plans. The MTLC is ultimately a number of insurance plans of which the monthly premiums are paid by Medicaid on behalf of the Medicaid participant.
It also provides the external professionals necessary for professional care such as skilled nurses, personal care assistants, etc.
Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP)
In some cases, the MLTC agency may provide a third party financial body that will offer the services typically provided by a personal care assistant. The Medicaid participant will be the one to hire the personal care assistant. He or she is thus in the driver’s seat, having the authority to hire who will care for them.
Medicaid Personal Care Services
Here, the participant receives nutritional, environmental support, and personal health care functions. The services rendered must be essential to the person’s well-being at home based on their needs and cost-effectiveness. It includes things like housekeeping, bathing, dressing, grooming, etc.
Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA) Services
This Medicaid home care service provides visiting nurse services and physical, occupational, or speech therapy (PT/OT). It also includes home health aide services and medical supplies. The nursing visit is occasional. They do not have to remain with the Medicaid participant round-the-clock.
Home and Community-Based Waiver Programs
Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) are made available to individuals who naturally would only be eligible for Medicaid if they were in an assisted living facility. But the waiver allows such persons to receive the same care at home. In waiver programs such as this, the aim is to create a balance where comprehensive long term care services offered in institutional facilities can also be offered at home.
Hospice care
People who enrolled in MTLC plans may obtain hospice services outside the MLTC plan without having to opt out of MLTC.
Types of Home Health Care Services
The following are more specific home health care services (not programs) a patient may receive at home.
Doctor Care
The participant may have a doctor visit them from time to time for medical checkup and assessment of their current home health care needs.
Nursing care
The doctor may recommend a nursing service based on the patient’s condition. The nursing care may include wound dressing, intravenous therapy, administering medicine, keeping track of the patient’s health condition, etc.
Physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy
After a severe injury, some patients may need to relearn basic actions such as speech or daily routine. An occupational therapist can help a patient relearn basic functions like eating, bathing, grooming, etc. A physical therapist helps in using the muscles and joints. While a speech therapist can help the patient learn how to express themselves again.
Medical social services
Here, medical social workers can help the patient locate caregivers and professionals just right for their needs.
Basic assistance care
This service involves helping the Medicaid participant in grocery shopping, cooking, and other chores.
Talk to an elder law attorney near you Long Island
Planning towards long term care can be daunting, but things become clearly when you have a legal expert guiding you. If you have questions or need help with your home care in Long Island, put a call through to our law firm today.
