Thursday, April 28, 2005

GOP Wants to Curb Medicaid Estate Planning SF Gate story - "To slow the rapidly growing Medicaid program, some lawmakers would like to make it harder for the elderly to shelter their assets as a way to have the government cover more of their nursing home expenses. GOP members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee asked state Medicaid directors on Wednesday what they have done to curb 'Medicaid estate planning,' in which assets are transferred so people look poor on paper and thus qualify for Medicaid. Federal law subjects beneficiaries to eligibility delays when assets are transferred at below-market values, but estate planning allows people to evade those rules, lawmakers said at a subcommittee hearing."