I don’t make these things up…though it is hard to believe these types of stories are true!
An assisted living home in Sumner, Washington is trying to evict a 99-year-old resident who has exhausted her life savings and now depends on Medicaid. Cordelia Robertson has lived at Franklin House for 10 years, but the home says it doesn’t have a space for another resident on Medicaid, which pays less. The company says she owes nearly $20,000.
What is the solution? First, increase the amount which Medicaid pays for assisted living care. Second, require the assisted living facility to keep the resident in return for the guaranteed payment by Medicaid. Hospitals which treat patients who are Medicare beneficiaries cannot bill the patient more than what Medicare will pay so why should assisted living facilities who accept Medicaid patients expect more?
My opinion: If Franklin House is allowed to evict Mrs. Robertson they should be required to refund to the state of Washington every dollar it accepted in Medicaid payments over the last 10 years!