My grandmother was a resident of an AL that sent her to the hospital, didn’t notify me. Hospital dr called and said she would be discharged next day back to AL. I did not find out until two weeks later she went to a rehab facility instead. I’m not local, and am not close with my grandmother but I am her designated POA. Rehab notified me she was out of insurance coverage for her stay (I didn’t even know she was there) and that the AL would not take her back because she was outside their level of care. No formal notice from AL they weren’t having her back. They did auto draft her though and when I spoke to director on the phone said she would be billed until her belongings were moved. I didn’t have resources to move her things, nor any where to move them to. Meanwhile case management at rehab said they would contact preferred SNF closest to her local friends for transfer (not many options in her area). There were many, many delays in getting back to me with options. I was told there was no availability at her preferred facility but they were able to keep her there long term. I finally flew out to her state, and went to preferred facility to get on the wait list (and look at facilities in her desired area close to friends) and was told there was no wait list she could come right away. Still two more weeks before rehab sent paperwork and arranged transport. Now they are billing $13k for her “residential stay” and are threatening me with legal action. So she’s been billed by both facilities. The rehab says she owes for residential services, but she was not voluntarily admitted as a resident. The only billing details they will send say “room and board” and the dates. Does anyone have any advice?
This is bull----. The rehab my father was in tried to pull the same thing.
It's a shakedown. Don't pay them anything. The AL is a different story. That's like a rent and a lease. If her stuff was still in her AL apartment/room then she owes the money until it was removed.
No one owes the rehab though. They were dragging their feet to run the bill up. Let them put it into ligitation. They will lose. You can make a good argument that she was ready to be discharged and that the SNF had a place for her, but they dragged their feet to run the bill up.
Don't pay it. All they will do is make empty threats.
But the trouble is, this is all governed by contract and it is (((sorry))) your responsibility as her POA to get to grips with what liabilities she'll incur if she overstays or fails to clear a room. It may also have been your responsibility to get things moving with her placement after rehab.
Nuisance and indignation aside, is the money a problem for your grandmother? If it isn't, it may not be worth the tussle. What does it actually say in the ALF's and the rehab facility's terms and conditions?
The POA was not even told that the person she is POA for (her grandmother) was even going to the rehab.
That was all done on the down-low.
If the POA is the one in charge, they woud have needed that person to sign admission forms at the rehab.
This is a classic care facility shakedown. They don't have to pay.
That is only one factor to consider if/when you dispute the bill.
You could find out if the space was rented to someone else, and when they moved in. Take notes.
I would suggest contacting the Assisted Living Ombudsman and ask how it is rational to charge room and board on a space your grandmother did not occupy during that time period; and at the same time was not allowed to return to at the same time.
Maybe this could be termed a 'constructive eviction'.
Fight it.
Only I fear the claoms probably are valid :(
Hence the saying 'they get you coming and going.'
With my Moms contract, she had to be in the hospital/rehab for 14 days before I saw any discount. She still paid the room and board after 14 days but not her care. She was responsible for her rent and care up till then. She was billed by the day.
Now her Rehab stay. Why were you as her POA not called to OK Mom being sent on to rehab. The AL I would think cannot make that decision and should have given Rehab ur info. They should have called you to get permission. Rehab is not a have to thing, you or Mom could say no. Medicare pays 100% for the first 20 days, 21 to 100-50%. How many days was grandmom there? She will owe the 50% unless her supplemental picks it up. If she was there the whole 100 days, based on $300 a day, she would owe at least 12k if her supplimental will not pick it up. (I am going by what my Mom paid 5 yrs ago).
So after that 100 days and since AL will not take her back, she will be charged the daily charge for each day she is there. They cannot discharge her safely. Really not their fault AL will not take her back.
And her being transferred to another facility, was that really up to the facility she was at, or your responsibility to set that up with the new facility? Could you have set up a transport and told the rehab when she was being picked up and to please have all paperwork ready?
Really, so sorry you are going thru this, it is overwhelming and ur not near. Someone dropped the ball. Start with the AL, why was your info not given to the hospital and th? If it was, why were you not called when she was admitted and upon discharge? Why were u not called by Rehab and given info on Moms progress?
I think you may have a complaint with the AL if grandmom was incompetent for sure. I would call the State Ombudsman and tell them you were not called by the AL when GMom was taken to the hospital. This may be a violation on their part they can be fined for.
I do think you will find, that Gmom will owe something to both places. You personally cannot be held responsible.