Investigation finds Ohio Medicaid pays millions for patients who don't qualify

An investigation by the Ohio Department of Mental Health has discovered some northern Ohio nursing homes using Medicaid to pay for homeless and mentally ill patients who don't qualify for the care. (Source: "Nursing homes warehouse homeless, mentally ill," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 21, 2007.) These patients, many discharged from hospital psychiatric wards, would be eligible for Medicaid payment for nursing home care if they needed hands-on assistance. But the state investigation found that 60% of the psychiatric patients don't need such intensive care, which costs Medicaid about $148 a day per patient.