My mother has been hospitalized and in 3 SNF's since Dec of 2023. She is and has been on Medicaid from the beginning. I am told by Medicare that she is " QMB". Qualified Medicare Benefciary. No Co pays, deductibles,etc. The second SNF tried to collect 3K and soon backed down. I removed my mother Feb 27th of this year and she is comfortable in an AFH. (I am her POA.) The SNF has continously billed, left VM's regarding $ they want to collect. I block calls and have returned mail. I sent them a polite but firm notice of Cease and desist and Why, to No avail. I have looked for an Elder law attorney but all contacted Don't seem to want to deal with this. I once had a conversation with an ombudsman organization. And she said she'd email me info but never did. I am at my wits end with this SNF idiocy. Her insurance has tried and tried to contact them but no one answers a phone! Ive been on the line as well and observed this. Billing people have changed since my in house experience with them and letters, bills have different " in chg" names. They have been paid in full for the whole stay. Im SO OVER this idiotic, not to mention poorly rated organization for lack of a better word. Any ideas as to how to get rid of these Leaches?
If your Mom has been on Medicaid all along and the bills are coming in her name, I'm not sure you need to pay any attention to any of it.
Have you called the Medicaid office to ask why the SNF thinks it needs to harass you over the billing? Call the Medicaid office (and expect a long wait). Once you talk to them you should be able to get the answer you need.
They all have staff in their offices that deal with "elder affairs".
This bill is coming to your mom who has no assets with which to pay it. Even if she has SS it cannot be touched to pay her bills. Therefore Mom is judgement-proof. Let them keep billing. Let them ruin her credit. She no longer needs credit. Return or don't open mail. Stop speaking to them on phone and let it go to voicemail. They will soon tire of it and the paper will be sold to a collector who will pay pennies on the dollar and then he/she will be calling as well.
When Mom passes you will return all this with "deceased; no estate" if that's the case.
If Mom was not in rehab, then Medicare will only pay 80% but then Medicaid should pick up the balance. Are you just being sent an amount? If so tell them you want details. Is there a few days where Mom was admitted before Medicaid LTC started paying? I had a friend who this happened to and he owed $800. He was placed 2 days before the 1st of the month when Medicaid pays. There was no back paying. If this is you case, that 3k is owed. Medicare only pays for rehab not LTC nursing.
Tried to think of everything I could. Please update on what the outcome is. Its really up to them to prove this amount is owed. Tell them its in their court. Also, tell them she is on Medicaid. Tell them to stop sending mail or calling. Its uncollectable. And if it is due, all Moms SS and pension are going to her care, she can't pay it anyway. You are not responsible for her debts. They can't attach her SS. Not sure about pension. They won't sue, not enough money. So Mom has an outstanding debt, she does not need any credit at this point.
When all said and done, keep doing what your doing, throw it in the trash. Don't answer any calls you don't know the number.