However, that is not so.  A good example is as follows:

Applicant requires assistance with all of their activeties of daily living (ADLs).  The spouse informs the nurse of all the task that she/he does. Applicant hears all of this and says “I don’t need any assistance.” Remarkably, the nurse considers the applicant’s input and denies home care services.

Recommendation. Cargivers must be aware of this issue and control the applicants from any discussion with the nurse assessing them.

The post How to avoid home care services denials appeared first on Elder Care Services Inc.

When appealing decisions made by the applicant’s Manage Long-Term Care (MLTC) agency, applicants must first request an appeal from the Agency.  If denied a second appeal is required and only after the second denial can the applicant apply for a fair hearing through the State.

Nursing Home applicants receive 60 days to request a State fair hearing.   Hearings are held before an administrative law judge either in person or zoom. 

For additional information contact us at Elder Care Services, Inc.     

The post Maneuvering Medicaid Denials and Appeals appeared first on Elder Care Services Inc.

In the past Medicaid applicants who needed 24/7 home care services and were denied by their Manage Long Term Care Agency (MLTC), had the opportunity to switch to (NHTD).  NHTD waiver program was able to provide 12/7 and 24/7 of home care services; however, on November 23, 2025 federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid placed a cap on the maximum number of participants allowed to serve.

In order to comply with federal requirements, New York State amended the waiver and set a maximum number of participants for the waivers years 2025-2026, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 to 9,400 for all three years.  Considering they have presently reached the approved maximum number of participants, they have placed a suspension for any new referrals to the NHTD waiver program at this time.  The Department of Health will review the waiver census on a regular basis and will communicate  waiver availabilty to the Regional Resource Development Centers. Basically, participants need to drop out of the system before new applicants can appply.

 The Regional Resource Development Centers will provide this information to the public and will process new referrals for any available spaces on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Individuals interested in additional information may reach out to:

nhtdwaiver@health.ny.gov for any questions.

The post The Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) Medicaid Waiver Program is still alive appeared first on Elder Care Services Inc.

In the past, if a veteran applied for Medicaid he/she would be forced to apply for VA benefits as a criteria for Medicaid eligibility; however in December 23, 2025 Medicaid eliminated the above referenced issue as well as other requirements.

No longer will Medicaid force applicants to apply for other benefits in order to apply for Medicaid medical assistance.  In the past applicants had to apply for annuities, pensions, retirement and disability benefits, social security retirement, survivors benefits, disability insurance, Railroad Retirement and unemployment benefits.

The new directive allows applicants an easier approach to become financially eligible for the care they desperately need.

For additional information on Medicaid eligibility you may contact us at www.eldercareservicesny.com.

The post Look-Back Period appeared first on Elder Care Services Inc.

Although the office moved, our objective continues to be the same.  Serving the needs of the disabled and elderly population, in New York State, who wish to explore Medicaid services, and at the same time, protect their income, resources and homes.

Consultations are always Free – call us at (718) 575-5700 and find out how anyone can become financially eligible for New York Medicaid medical services.

The post ECS Moved to NST appeared first on Elder Care Services Inc.

1.  A Special Touch Home Care Services,
2.  AccentCare of NY,
3.  Access: Support for Living,
4.  AccessCNY, Inc.,
5.  AHS Eldercare,
6.  AIM Independent Living Center,
7.  Angels in Your Home,
8.  ARISE, Inc.,
9.  BestCare, Inc.,
10.  Burd Home Health LLC.,
11.  Center for Disability Rights,
12.  Chinese American Planning Council,
13.  Committed Home Care, Inc.,
14.  Community Care Companions, Inc.,
15.  Community Home Health Care,
16.  Companion Care of Rochester (CCOR),
17.  Conept of Independence, Inc.,
18.  Consumer Directed Choices, Inc.,
19.  Eagle Eye FV, Inc.,
20.  Finger Lakes Independence Center, Inc.,
21.  Hamaspik Home Care,
22.  Heritage Christian Services,
23.  Horizon Home Care Services, Inc.,
24.  Ideal Home Health Inc.,
25.  Independent @Home,
26.  Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley, INc., (ILCHV),
27.  Independent Living, Inc.,
28.  Long Island Center for Independent Living, Inc.,
29.  People Care, Inc.,
30.  Persoanl Touch Home Care,
31.  Premier Home Health Care,
32.  Quality Family Care, LLC.,
33.  Quality Touch, Inc.,
34.  Resource Center for Independent Living,
35.  Rockland Independent Living Center dba Bridges,
36.  Southern Tier Independence Center,
37.  Western New York Independent Living.

The post CDPAP – List of Facilitators appeared first on Elder Care Services Inc.

Beginning April 1, 2025 families requesting CDPAP, Consumer Direct Personal Assistance Program, where the applicants were able to hire family members, will change.  Below you will find a chart indicating the differences between CDPAP and Traditional Personal Care: 

Do not be misled – the CDPAP program is OPEN and many applicants employ their family members to assist them.

Applicants can continue to utilize the program, but must comply to the new changes.

More to come . . . .

The post CDPAP appeared first on Elder Care Services Inc.

When a family or loved one hears your spouse/parent/partner are in need of nursing home care, they immediately panic and fear all of their assets are going to be needed to support the ill person’s nursing home bill.  Most people do not have a clue about Medicaid eligibility, because they never needed to use such services. Rumors circulate scaring people that Medicaid will take everything they had saved for the past 60 to 70 years.  Most nursing homes financial offices will interview the family and discuss financial payments.  If they see that the ill applicant and/or his/her family have money they would suggest to spenddown.  What is Spendown?  Medicaid imposed a limit regarding income and resources the applicant can posses and what the spouse is allowed.  Spenddown means that you spend your assets on the care until you meet those numbers; however, although this concept works it’s not the only option out there.

Another option is to transfer the excess resources of the ill spouse to the well spouse and the ill spouse becomes financially eligible the following month.

Suppose there is no spouse! this person is not excluded from saving some of his/hers assets.  They have the opportunity to gift some of their assets and with the remaining assets purchase a promissory note or annuity. This allows the ill person to protect a good portion of their assets depending on their income and nursing home expenses.

Spenddown is not the only solution! 

For more infromation about Medicaid Eligibility, contact us for a Free Consultation.

The post Nursing Home Medicaid Eligibility appeared first on Elder Care Services Inc.

Presently an applicant is allowed to transfer any amount of assets one month and become financially eligible for Community Medicaid the following month.  However, according to NYS Department of Health the implementation of the rule passed October 2020, a 30 months look-back period, will be in effect sometime in 2025.

What does that mean?  Once the rule goes into effect, future applicants will be forced to disclose 30 months of financial statements.  If in the past 30 months (from date of application), the applicant transferred assets to someone other than their spouse, a disqualification period will be imposed before the appplicant gets approved.  The disqualification period will be the same as nursing home applicants using the NYS nursing home regional rate chart.  In NYC it will be $14,273.  That means for every $14,273 transferred the applicant will be disqualified for 1 month.  Example:  A transfer of $142,730 will create a 10 month disqualification period.

There are various options to avoid some or all of the disqualification periods.

For further information and or updates regarding this issue, contact us at Elder Care Services, Inc., (718) 575-5700. 

The post Community Medicaid Look-Back Period appeared first on Elder Care Services Inc.

Things to consider when filling. Although Medicaid allows the applicant to keep their primary residence while they are alive, it does not mean the beneficiaries of their Will will receive part or all of the property. One needs to remember that Medicaid is the first creditor on the applicant’s Will. This means that once the Will is probated Medicaid is the first creditor.

The above should not discourage future applicants from filing for Medicaid medical assistance.  On the contrary, there are several ways to protect the applicant’s primary residence prior to applying.

For more information regarding this issue, contact us at (718) 575-5700.    

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