No ideas, but I feel badly for her. Talk to a Social Worker at the hospital, that is the person who knows the "ins and outs" of Medicaid, home ownership, etc. In the meantime, I'll say a prayer for your friend.

Does she have equity in her home that will be realized when it sells?

Will she be discharged, or will she continue to need some kind of 'care' home -- and would Medicaid pay for it? Is there a less expensive facility than where she is now? If her 'room and board' are covered, can she get by with only a small income?

You *are* helping her by being 'in her corner' and helping her find the alternatives open to her.

Is there a Senior Center in your area? Ours employs a social worker to help in situations just like this.

Here, I would phone a county-wide organization, called the County Office of Healthcare for the Aging (or something like that). They would know exactly what to do and they are there to help with all kinds of options/solutions.

Every facility has financial counselors and medical billing advocates. They are EXTREMELY helpful and as vicsgirl said, they really know the ins and outs of the system. It's a bit different being in a rehab facility vs. a hospital, as non-profit hospitals here are required to have discount and charity care programs. I'm not sure what a rehab facility can offer, but you won't know until you ask.

Counselors can also guide her to state assistance programs (I don't know what state you live in - you'd have to research that as they are all different) if she qualifies, and it sounds like she definitely should. Here we have mortgage help and foreclosure aid, property tax relief, assistance from the utility companies for greatly reduced rates on telephone and electric bills, state disability programs, meal delivery programs for housebound and disabled people, and lots of others.

The programs are out there and available. I'll warn you, it will take persistence and detective work to find them in some cases. If an agency or organization says no, call back a day or two later and get a different person on the phone. You'd be surprised!

Many, many good thoughts for your friend. You are an angel to jump in and help her.

If she has equity in her house, she needs to sell it *fast*.

If it goes back to the lender, she isn't likely to get a dime.

To answer a few questions: She is no longer receiving medical care- - physical rehab only. She has a townhouse but has a second mortgage on it and Im not sure she would profit by selling. She has a car (not sure if it is paid off) which is probably about 4 years old.
I agree that someone who knows the ins and outs of her situation needs to get involved. I don't think the facility she is in will be much help because if she is on medicaid they will receive 7,000 a month and she will have to pay 2,800 a month which will leave her with 78.00 or so a month and the facility receiving a total of 9,800.00.
My feeling is that she would be better off returning to her home, getting home rehab either paid by medicare for a short time and self pay home care help. I don't know what her prognosis is at this point. She had surgery, radiation and 2 of 4 sessions of chemo. which just wipes her out leaving her sick and too weak to be at home.
I am fully aware that she needs an advocate who can represent her best interests and she has a friend who is researching that. Getting older (she is late 60s) and alone is no fun.
I didn't really expect an answer to her situation but I just needed to vent. Thanks for listening and sending Kathy prayers.

Olychick is correct. Call the Dept. of Health and Senior Services for your state - they will do an investigation and take over from there.

take a deep breath! Medicaid is a slippery slope that can defeat you unless you keep at them...my first thought is for her to rent the home for the amount of payments.. if the feds will accept that or consider it as income only they know...we're in the final process of putting fil on Medicaid. omg we have files about 6" thick. that includes any life ins policies, first and foremost funeral arrangements PAID for, the last 5 years of fil's income tax, and of course if he had property...I was under the impression they can't force you out of your home but?? believe me the state office are/can be real s.o.b's...if she has an attorney, the first thing they can do is become or have her appoint a poa (power of attorney) to help...also if she can get discharged and home health ( $10-20 per hour) it might keep her medicare intact...

What about renting it out? Just a thought. My kindest wishes for her for an outcome she handle!