Medicaid & Chronic Disease of the Elderly

Medicaid is a federally- and state-funded, state-operated health insurance program. Low-income elderly individuals qualify for Medicaid benefits. Medicaid pays for a variety of medical expenses for treatment of chronic diseases in the elderly.

Location

• Medicaid pays for a services in a variety of settings for elderly individuals with chronic diseases, including in-home health care, outpatient medical services and nursing home care.

Providers

• Medicaid only pays for services offered by Medicaid-approved providers. Contact your state Medicaid office if you are unsure whether a provider is approved to bill Medicaid.

Services

• Medicaid pays for in-home health services for the elderly with chronic conditions, including skilled nursing, attendant care and homemaking services. Medicaid also pays for nursing home care, hospice services, outpatient services and a variety of mental health services, including psychiatric medication management, therapy, case management and partial hospitalization services.

Conditions

• Medicaid pays for treatment of numerous types of chronic diseases in the elderly, including dementia, mental illnesses such as mood disorders and psychotic disorders, renal failure, cancer, heart disease, liver failure, neuromuscular diseases and more.

PACE

• The Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is an optional Medicaid benefit for individuals who are at least 55 years old and have a chronic condition that requires nursing home care. PACE programs provide social and medical services in residential facilities such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities or in the home of the individual.