Caregiver concerns show exceptions, not rules
The recent article, "Change to law outrages disabled adults' parents," raises concerns with North Carolina's Medicaid program. Parents, who are also the legal guardians of their disabled adult children, are distraught with the state's new policy that prohibits payments to legal guardians for providing Medicaid services to these children.
Several years ago, North Carolina secured approval from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to use Medicaid funds for providing home- and community-based services to people who otherwise would need nursing home or similar long-term institutional care. North Carolina now wants to suddenly stop parents, who are legal guardians of adult disabled children, from being their child's paid caregiver.
There may be legitimate concern that guardians who are paid caregivers could influence the adult child's plan of care for personal financial gain. However, state health officials ignore the decent parents who forfeited good, paying jobs with health insurance to remain home and care for adults who depend on the constant attention of a compassionate caregiver.
North Carolina's new policy is a classic example of government "throwing out the baby with the dirty bath water."
John Ansbro
Greensboro
The writer is executive director, The Arc of Greensboro.
Comments (3)
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Hear, hear! Most parents, whether of normal or special-needs children or adults, want what is best for their children. If there are abuses, weed them out and let the others care for their grown children as needed. This seems akin to throwing everyone in jail because they might commit tax fraud.
Every situation is different. Some disabled adult children will do better at home, others in group homes. Think about the patient/client needs first.
Posted on December 5, 2006 3:37 PM
beadbaby,
I agree with this lte. I'm hoping the powers that be will reconsider this. It is my belief that these changes are NOT being done for the benefit of the patient or the parent.
Posted on December 5, 2006 4:01 PM
I agree with you, nitpicker. This sounds like a way for the state to get out of paying this money. Or am I just being too cynical?
Posted on December 5, 2006 9:56 PM