Medicaid Introduction

The Social Security Act is the basis for the laws involving Medicaid.  The program is administered on the state and federal level.  It provides health insurance assistance to those with disabilities, the elderly, and those with low incomes.  It also provides funds for the costs of a nursing home.

In Michigan, Medicaid assistance can be available to those who choose to remain in their homes through the Home and Community based Waiver program. 
Congress sets the rules for Medicaid.  Those rules are listed in the United States Code.  However, the State of Michigan implements its own version of those rules in its “Program Eligibility Manual.”  Because of this double framework, the laws are complex and difficult to interpret.  The help of an attorney who practices in this area is essential as the rules can change quickly. What follows is a general outline of some of the rules: