NURSING FACILITY RESIDENT STIMULUS CHECKS

Last week, NCHCFA was contacted by a member facility asking whether or not a nursing facility resident could give away their stimulus check.  This is very tricky territory.  The money does belong to the recipient and is treated differently than their usual monthly income sources.  They can give it to a family member (for example a laid off son or daughter) but facilities are urged to document (emphasis added) that this was done of their own free will – no coercion.

Suggestions from the National Long Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO) Office include having a 3rd party witnesses to sign off, LTCO witnesses via iPad, or something similar.

Providers need to be sensitive to this issue because the press was desperately looking for examples of how nursing facilities were allowing these funds to be taken away from patients and residents.  The American Health Care Association (AHCA) called out several newspapers on unfounded stories.  AHCA resources and guidance on this is located HERE.