FTC warns some facilities forcing Medicaid recipients to sign over checks

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — A warning from the government about nursing homes and assisted living facilities taking stimulus checks from some patients.

The Federal Trade Commission says it is issuing this warning after getting several reports that nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the country were having Medicaid patients sign their stimulus checks over to them. The FTC officially saying these facilities are not allowed to do that.

The nursing homes and assisted living facilities involved claimed that the stimulus checks counted as resources. Under the rules of Medicaid resources must be used to pay for services, but the FTC says that is not the case, and it is asking families who have loved ones at these facilities to ask if this happened to them.

The FTC recommends you talk to your loved one and the facility management if you are not sure where the stimulus payment has gone. Also, that you should feel secure in saying that the stimulus payment does not count as income. Stimulus payments would not affect Medicaid eligibility in any way.

According to the CARES Act the only reason your stimulus payment might be taken is if you have past due child support.

If you or a loved one have been pressured into signing you stimulus check over to care facility, you should file a complaint with the Oklahoma Attorney General, or the attorney general where the victim resides, and you can also file a complaint with the FTC.