A Medicaid attorney can help patients who worry about the cost of a hospital stay or who worry about the cost of receiving home care or nursing home care. One of the most costly times is when patients are admitted to a hospital and/or when they require ongoing care after they leave a hospital facility. 
While Medicare can provide some coverage for seniors, there are co-pays and cost sharing fees which can be expensive for seniors who are on fixed incomes. Further, Medicare covers nursing home care only in limited situations after a hospital discharge and only for limited periods of time. Medicaid can provide far more comprehensive coverage for seniors who have created a plan in advance to get Medicaid without having to spend down assets.
Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC can help seniors to plan ahead to get Medicaid coverage. Our experienced White River Junction Medicaid lawyers also assist seniors in understanding other ways to keep healthcare costs down. For example, transitional care may be the answer for many seniors discharged from a hospital setting. Transitional care has become increasingly popular in Vermont and programs are currently being developed and being expanded to provide this type of care to patients who have been discharged from the hospital.
Understanding How Transitional Care Helps Discharged Vermont Patients
One of the biggest issues faced by people with a medical emergency is what happens when they are discharged from the hospital. This can be an especially big issue for seniors, who already may experience more difficulty with self-care and who may live alone and have limited assistance.
WNYT reports on how some Vermont patients are getting help after a hospital discharge. These patients are being assisted by healthcare professionals who are making a concentrated effort to improve the transition to home through the use of transitional nursing care. The example given in the article is of a 72-year-old man who was hit by a car over the course of the summer. He was admitted to the hospital but when he was released, he still needed some assistance with the last stages of recovery.
A member of the Transitional Care Team at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center was able to provide the necessary help. Transitional care nurses who are part of the Transitional Care Team make home visits to provide support to discharged payments, and/or check in by phone with patients who have been discharged from the hospital. These transitional care nurses can help patients who are confused by the medications, can provide solutions like getting medications pre-packaged, and can otherwise offer the assistance patients need to better recover after a health incident.
Patients of all ages may get support from the Transitional Care Team, as a transitional care nurse told WNYT that they had had patients ranging in age from their 30’s to a 101-year-old patient. Patients who would be a good fit for receiving transitional care are referred in by a hospital nurse, by hospital staff, or by a primary care doctor or rehab center. More than 400 patients have already been served since the Transitional Care Program was first instituted two years ago.
The program to provide transitional care was developed in response to healthcare reform efforts which focused on shortening hospital stays and reducing hospital readmission rates. When patients are in the hospital for a shorter period of time, costs are cut significantly. Unfortunately, patients may not have time to learn to manage their medications or deal with their conditions, which can increase readmission rates. With transitional care, patients are given the support they need but can still be discharged.
Patients who get help are more confident when they return home, and they are less anxious about their recovery- which leads to better outcomes. Ideally, patients get the transitional care for up to three months, but this can vary depending upon the patient’s needs.
Getting Help from a Medicaid Attorney
If you are concerned about how your hospital bills will be paid or about getting care after release from a hospital, a White River Junction Medicaid attorney at Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC should be consulted.
To learn more about care options for discharged patients or about how we can help you to qualify for Medicaid, join us for a free seminar. You can also contact us to get personalized advice that is tailored to your situation. You can give us a call at (802) 879-7133 or contact us online today so we can get started on helping you to ensure you are always able to get the medical care that you need for the health issues that you may face as you age.
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