Mondell approved for Medicaid

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
The owner of Mondell Heights, also called Baird Enterprises, has completed important upgrades to the facility. Owner Diane Hudson said the facility, which is home to nearly 20 people, now qualifies for Medicaid. 
Since purchasing the facility, Hudson has upgraded the retirement community from the lowest-level boarding home to an assisted living facility, providing enough services to residents to meet Medicaid requirements. 
Hudson explained that a boarding home is a facility that provides no medical services, just a place to live and meals. After putting a nurse and certified nursing assistants on the staff as primary caregivers, Hudson obtained an assisted living license for Mondell Heights in 2012. 
“It comes down to the level of care and food standards,” Hudson said. “The building has been meeting the requirements for 25 years, even though there was a lot we didn’t think would be standards.”
At that point, Hudson did not see the need to move forward with Medicaid certification because the facility was full and the residents were all private pay who were not going to use the Medicaid. 
“We are now certified as a Medicaid provider,” Hudson said, noting that as the years went by she changed her mind about pursuing certification. 
She recalled thinking about how some residents have been living in her facility for 10 years and knowing that they would not have enough money to continue private pay in the near future. 
“Medicaid allows people who have used up their savings or with limited income to afford assisted living,” Hudson said. “Medicaid pays the same across the state, no matter what
the facility charges. They pay between $1,500 and $1,800, allowing for about half of the $3,200 a month charged paid for by the insurance program.” 
According to Hudson, the license upgrade allows people who may not have enough money to still have choices in the community, instead of going into a nursing home, such as the Weston County Manor where Medicaid has always been accepted. 
“It gives them a freedom to choose the level of care they are getting. A lot of residents at the Manor would qualify to live here,” Hudson said. 
According to Hudson, the difference between Mondell Heights and the Manor is the level of care provided. Hudson said that her facility would not take residents who require total care in any area, including feeding themselves, showering, the inability to evacuate in an emergency or other complicated care patients. 
“If the residents cannot respond at all in several situations, they are beyond our level of care,” Hudson said. “I think there is an assumption that if a resident needs any care they can’t be here and that is not true. We do give our residents assistance with feedings, making appointments, administering medication, helping to arrange therapy or doctor trips and any other minor thing someone living there might need some help with.