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Admissions and
Waiting Lists
How do I apply for admission
to a nursing home?
Nursing homes must provide application forms to anyone
asking for one. Obtain applications for the homes you are interested in, complete them and
return them to the home.
If you are hospitalized, the hospital social worker or
discharge planner is responsible for requesting applications on your behalf and assisting
you, your family, guardian or conservator in completing the application.
What are the steps in the
application process?
When an application is requested, the home must send you
an application and dated receipt within two days. At this time, the nursing home will
place your name on the dated list of applicants. This list only shows that you have
requested an application and that it has been mailed to you.
Upon receipt of the application, it must be filled out
and returned to the nursing facility. When the application is received by the nursing
facility, your name will be placed on the nursing facility waiting list. It is not until
your name is placed on the waiting list that you will be considered for a bed in the
nursing facility. The nursing facility will not place your name on the waiting list unless
your application is substantially completed.
What financial information can
a nursing facility request?
A nursing home may ask if you have private insurance that
will pay for nursing home care or if you are entitled to Medicare or Medicaid. A home may
not ask for financial information to show that you are not eligible for Medicaid.
Once I am on the waiting list,
when will I be admitted?
Generally, a nursing home must admit applicants on a
first-come, first-served basis, based on the date the home receives a completed
application. However, Connecticut law provides that if a nursing facility has a certain
percentage of beds occupied by Medicaid recipients, or the only room available is a
private room, the facility may refuse to admit Medicaid applicants.
In addition to legalized discrimination against those
covered by Medicaid, there are many exceptions to the first-come, first served
requirement. For example, you should be allowed to be admitted ahead of others on the
waiting list if your spouse is already a patient in the nursing facility, or if you
require short term rehabilitation or respite care, or if you are residing in a facility
that is closing its doors.
How long will it take before I
am admitted?
It is difficult or impossible to know when you will be
offered a bed. It will depend on how many persons are ahead of you on the waiting list and
how often beds become available. The nursing facility must inform you of your place on the
waiting list whenever you or your representative requests such information.
When can my name be removed
from the waiting list?
Once your name is placed on the admission waiting list it
may not be removed unless (a) you have been on the wait list at least 90 days, (b) the
nursing facility writes to you asking if you wish to remain on the list, and (c) you do
not respond to the letter within 30 days.
What can I do if I feel I am being
improperly denied admission?
Contact your Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman. For
more information, visit the State
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program web site.
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Contracts
Should I sign the contract
that the nursing home gives me?
Since the obligations of the nursing home are specified
in the law, there may be no need to sign a contract. Many nursing home contracts are
designed primarily to limit the responsibility and liability of the home.
It is generally best to avoid signing a contract if you
can. Keep in mind that a resident who has moved into the nursing home can never be forced
to leave simply for refusing to sign the contract the home offers. Certainly, if you have
any questions about a contract, discuss these with any attorney or the Ombudsman. Like any
other contract, you can try to negotiate the terms. Be particular concerned about contract
language that limits the home’s liability, the resident’s rights to sue, or that
requires disputes to be handled through "binding arbitration."
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Deposits
When can a nursing home ask
for a deposit or advance payment?
A nursing home may not require a deposit or advance
payment if nursing home care will be paid for by Medicaid or Medicare.
Each nursing home must prominently post the limitations
on deposits or advance payments allowed under Medicare and Medicaid law and must obtain a
written statement from persons seeking admission to document their understanding of those
limitations.
Deposits for those covered by
Medicare
No deposit may be required of a patient whose stay is
coverable or partially coverable by Medicare. A nursing home may, however, request
deposits for services such as private rooms, private duty nurse, television, phone and
other personal comfort items which are not covered by Medicare.
If you are eligible for Medicare and the home thinks that
your stay in the home will not be covered by Medicare, you must be given a
written notice whenever a determination is made that your nursing facility stay will not
be covered. That notice must give you the option to have a bill submitted to Medicare for
review of the non-coverage decision. If you choose to have a bill submitted to Medicare,
you cannot be charged until Medicare sends you its decision. If you do not receive a
written notice telling you that your stay will not be covered, you cannot be
charged for the services you received.
Deposits for those covered by
Medicaid
If you are already receiving Medicaid, the nursing
facility may not request any deposit or advance payment from you. If you have
applied for Medicaid, but have not yet been found eligible, and your stay will not be
covered by Medicare, the nursing facility may only request a deposit or advance payment of
no more than $1,500. If a deposit is paid, it must be held in an account for your
benefit and must be returned to you when your Medicaid eligibility has been established.
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Admissions
and waiting list law
Connecticut General Statutes
Sec.19a-560.
Disclosure of Medicaid and Medicare participation and advance payment and deposit
requirements by nursing homes.
Sec.19a-533.
(Formerly Sec. 19-614a). Discrimination against indigent applicants. Definitions.
Prohibitions. Record-keeping. Investigation of complaints. Penalties. Waiting lists; not
required to accept indigents. Removal from waiting lists.
Please click on the underlined statutes
above to view the law!
Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies
Sec. 17-311-200. Definitions.
(a) "nursing home"
(b) "indigent person"
(c) "applicant for admission"
(d) "dated list of applications"
(e) "waiting list"
Sec. 17-311-201. Prohibition of discrimination against
indigent applicants.
Sec. 17-311-202. Admission in order of application of all
applicants.
Sec. 17-311-203. Provision of receipts.
Sec. 17-311-204. Maintenance of dated list of
applications.
Sec. 17-311-205. Mailing of written application to
persons on dated list of applications.
Sec. 17-311-206. Maintenance of a waiting list
Sec. 17-311-207. Daily logs
Sec. 17-311-209. Admissions
Unfortunately, many State of Connecticut Regulations are not on-line. If you
are a Connecticut Bar Association member, you can use the Casemaker service to find the
regulations.
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Deposits
and advance payments laws
Connecticut General Statutes § 19a-550 (b)(24),
(25) and (26). Patients' Bill or Rights.
42 Code of Federal Regulations §
483.10 (b)(10). Resident rights.
42 Code of Federal Regulations §
483.12 (d). Admission, transfer and discharge rights.
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