In a big victory for nursing home residents, a California court has ruled that residents who are dumped and refused readmission only need to prevail in their administrative fair hearing in order to establish a violation of their rights in a civil action against the facility.
Several advocacy organizations, including Justice in Aging, Western Center on Law & Poverty, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, are calling on Congress to end mandatory estate recovery for Medicaid beneficiaries. A white paper, released today, notes that Medicaid estate recovery perpetuates poverty and inequality for very little in return.
On April 6, two nonprofit newsrooms in California published findings of remarkable investigations of California nursing home chains that are expanding their operations despite decisions by state regulators that they are unfit to be licensed. Reporters for KPCC/LAist investigated ReNew Health Group and its CEO, Crystal Solorzano, who it reports owns or is affiliated with at least 26 nursing homes throughout California.
While nursing homes are required to employ medical directors to oversee the care of residents, under federal and state law residents are still legally entitled to rely on the recommendations of their own personal physicians outside the facility as well.
My mother is on Medi-Cal, and wants me to inherit her home after she dies without going through the time and expense of probate or trust administration.