Expert: Paula Damgaard - 10/19/2008

Question
My mom is in a nursing home. She has alzhemers, CHF, COPD, a trach, needs daily trach care, sucttioining and medications. Do these condition qualifiy as skilled services?
Also, my mom has no supp ins to pay coinsurance. We applyed for NYS Medicaid. Will Medicaid pay the coinsurance for the first 100 days retroactively.
Thank you,
Kathleen

Answer
Hi Kathleen, I would say most definitely that trach care and suctioning are definitely skilled nursing services.  

I am not sure waht NYS Medicaid laws are I am sorry.  I really try to stay as far away from insurance issues as I can because they seem to change daily.  I cannot keep up with that!  And every state is different.  So I would suggest to you that you either contact a geriatric attorney (if you can afford one) or go to the department of social services and ask someone there to help you they will know the answers to your questions.  

Good luck.  Paula