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January 24, 2017

What You Need to Know about Medicaid Changes for

your Eligibility for Social Security Disability

Image 1 Eligibility for Social Security Disability Affected by Medicaid Change

Changes happen in many industries, particularly the healthcare field. Medicaid, in particular, is about to get a facelift, thanks to the new president in charge and new agendas set forth by the Republicans. These changes are positioned to affect many aspects of healthcare, even social security disability.

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Decreased Funding With President Trump’s ascent into the White House comes a drastic transformation in Medicaid. These changes are a direct response to what many Republicans are calling an inefficient and bloated system, designed for individuals who are severely over the poverty line. This has caused an increase in federal government spending, and more pressure on Medicaid to accept this large influx of people. President Trump plans to offset this influx by decreasing federal funding, offering more state control, and allowing fewer participants into the program. Perhaps the most consequential change is the flexibility that states now have. Instead of the federal government controlling enrollment, states receive a fixed amount and get to decide how to administer it. This flexibility gives them the ability to experiment, seeing what method works best to provide low-income individuals with healthcare. Effects on Social Security Disability These Medicaid changes will undoubtedly trickle down to social security disability. When disabled people are approved for SSI, they get approved for Medicaid benefits as well. However, since federal spending on this program is decreasing, benefits from Medicaid may not go as far. This puts a lot of financial pressure on both the hospital and patients trying to receive medical treatment. How Your Hospital can Respond The looming federal cuts may affect a lot of your patients. You can respond by providing exceptional care during this time and giving them access to professional resources, such as eligibility experts. They’ll break down the benefits your disabled patients have access to, even if program funding might not look the same in a couple of months. These experts can also help your patients assess their eligibility for social security disability, and do everything possible to get them these much-needed benefits. They have established connections with specialists and organizations as well over the years, so some cases can be expedited. Change is a part of life, and it’s no different with healthcare. It’s how your hospital adapts to change that’s going to define how successful you are in the ensuing years. Luckily, there are companies like DECO that are ready to help you and your patients understand new healthcare regulations and policies.

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Then, patients are better treated because your staff is more equipped to answer the more difficult questions. About DECO: Patients deserve the best treatment, which sometimes means getting help from professionals like DECO. This company assists hospitals, giving them access to a variety of eligibility management services. This helps with potential bad debt conversion and better care for every patient you see. They make SSD applications easy to understand as well. Sources: Major changes for Medicaid coming under Trump and the GOP, Money.CNN.com Does Medicare or Medicaid Come with Disability, DisabilitySecrets.com