The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) grew out of efforts by both federal and state governments to respond to widely reported concerns that our most frail and vulnerable citizens, those living in long-term care facilities, were subject to abuse, neglect and substandard care. These residents also lacked the ability to exercise their rights or voice complaints about their circumstances. The primary purpose of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is to identify, investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and family care homes.
The LTCOP will make every reasonable effort to assist, advocate, and intervene on behalf of the resident. When investigating complaints, the program will respect the resident, maintain their confidentiality, and will focus on complaint resolution based on the resident’s wishes.
The LTCOP also focuses on educating the community on issues effecting LTC residents. In January 2019, Eric Carlson through Justice in Aging, released the guide 25 Common Nursing Home Problems & How to Resolve Them. This guide compares common misinterpretations or practices with the clear statement of the relevant law. Each month, the Region P Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program will review a problem discussed in the guide.
Problem #1: Providing Less Care to Medicaid-Eligible Residents
WHAT YOU HEAR: THE FACTS:
“MEDICAID DOES NOT A MEDICAID-ELIGIBLE RESIDENT
PAY FOR ONE-ON- IS ENTITLED TO THE SAME LEVEL
ONE ATTENTION.” OF SERVICE PROVIDED TO ANY
OTHER RESIDENT.
The Nursing Home Reform Act prohibits a nursing home from restricting services based on Medicaid eligibility. To learn more about this law and how to ensure your rights are protected, click here.