If you have a complaint about being denied a Medicaid bed - would you complain to all of your state sentors and reps or just one?

Should they all be working on your complaint?

When I write a letter to my Senators and Reps, I write it to ALL of them. My thinking is that each of them need to know what is going on, and they probably aren't going to tell each other, right?

I've only written twice, ever. The most recent is about the fact that I can't find a doctor who will accept a new Medicare patient---ME----even with the best supplemental insurance, and we live in a well-populated area.

It will be interesting if I hear back from any of them.

I think telling all of them would make it was unclear whose staff would actually address your specific issue. I would contact the Sen/Rep who is most involved with issues of health care reform or the one most known for having a staff that helps constituents.

On the other hand, to encourage them to vote for health care reform, you could write all of them, letting them know how difficult the current situation is.

Is it a specific home that won't accept her or are there no Medicaid beds available in any of the nearby NH?

quote:

Originally posted by brightwings:


Is it a specific home that won't accept her or are there no Medicaid beds available in any of the nearby NH?

She's been a private pay resident at a specific home.

I'd complain first to the person that issued the denial. And then I'd work my way up the chain of command. Trying to find the being that can do something about it. Chances are, every boss has a boss. --Jim

We've run out of people at the NH. Now it's time to go outside to the Ombudsman, State, Senators, etc.

I'd find out who was on your state's committee on aging and write to him or her and then to my state rep. I get good results from him. He's a good guy.

I call or go to see my congressional reprentative, and if that is not the right office they have been very good about giving me correct names and phone numbers

Definitely speak to the Ombudsman FIRST before you up the ante and contact politicians. The Ombudsman's job is to further research your complaint (and hopefully to mediate a solution.)

I agree with Jim on the importance of following the chain of command. (Otherwise the politicians offices will just tell you to contact the Ombudsman...)

Are you saying that she has been private pay and now that the money is gone they want to kick her out? That is terrible. I know that happened here a few years ago and when it hit the newspapers they suddenly changed their minds.

Did they tell you they would take medicaid when she was admitted? How long has she been there?

This is my nightmare since we are still private pay. They say it won't happen since they got so much bad publicity last time but I do worry about it.

If immediate intervention is needed, I have had very good luck contacting the county supervisor's offices for patient's families.

The supervisor's aides often rise to the occasion and the situation handled.

When contacting state representatives I usually contact the local offices AND the state capital offices. Their aides can also be very helpful.

For your mother to have been paying privately and then not accepted when having to use Medicaid is a very noxious situation.

I do hope you are able to gain assistance and have this turn around for you.

Please let us know how this is going, we will be thinking of you.

Johanna C.

We've made several contacts with the Ombudsman's office. They listen but they don't seem to follow up. My gut feeling is someone there is friendly with the administrators at teh NH. It's a small industry....I'm sure they see each other at industry events. This is a well established NH with a good reputation. Maybe someone worked there before moving to the Ombudsman's office.

Today I contacted the state. A couple of phone calls and I faxed some info.