LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford is advising nursing home residents and their family members to be cautious about having their economic impact payments or “stimulus checks” improperly taken from them.
By law, nursing homes cannot require residents on Medicaid to sign over their stimulus payments.
While Medicaid requires nursing home residents to contribute most of their income toward the cost of care, it still allows them to keep a small amount as personal-need allowance and pay for personal and uncovered medical expenses. The stimulus payments count towards this personal-need allowance.
If nursing homes or their staff obtain this money without the resident’s consent, this may be considered a form of elder exploitation.
If your loved one is living in a nursing home and you are not sure what happened to their stimulus payment, talk to your loved one to find out where the payment went. Consider speaking with the facility’s management to make sure they have not unlawfully taken the payment.
If you believe a nursing home resident who is a Medicaid recipient has forfeited their stimulus check to a nursing home, you may file a complaint with the Office of the Nevada Attorney General here or call our hotline toll free at (888) 434-9989.
