AP/Washington Post:

Medicaid recipients in Florida say the state is illegally forcing them to live in nursing homes rather than allowing them to live in the community where they choose.

Advocates charge that politicians have bowed to pressure by nursing home interests, and have written regulations that make it difficult for people to qualify for community care. They are pressing litigation on behalf of nearly 8,500 state residents who live in institutions.

The litigation has

… illuminated the frustration experienced by older people or those with disabilities who say they’re shuttled into nursing homes when they are healthy enough to live at home, with relatives, or in other less institutional settings.

“There are very, very, very few people who cannot be cared for outside in the community,” said Stephen Gold, a Philadelphia disability lawyer who, along with AARP attorneys and others, is representing the group. “Why should the state give a damn whether you put the money in the left pocket of the nursing home or the right pocket of the community?”

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 21st, 2008 at 12:45 pm and is filed under ADA, civil rights, independent living, law, nursing homes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.  Email This Post