Nursing Home Care Services provide residency, meals, skilled nursing and rehabilitative care, medical services and protective supervision for eligible individuals who are ill, frail and need 24-hour supervision.  Nursing homes are certified by state and federal government agencies to provide levels of care that range from custodial care to skilled nursing care that can only be delivered by trained professionals.  Many nursing home residents have physical, emotional or mental impairments that keep them from living independently.  

Nursing facility services are available for individuals who meet certain medical and financial criteria in accordance with the requirements of the Medicaid program.

The Medicaid program covers the cost of nursing facility care for individuals unable to afford the cost.  To receive payments for nursing facility care an individual:  

• Must apply and be determined eligible for Medicaid. 
• Must have net monthly income less than the rate Medicaid pays to the facility.  After expenses and deductions, an individual's income is used to offset the costs of care with the balance paid by Medicaid.
• Can not exceed a $2,500 resource limit.
• $56 of income is allowed for personal expenses.  Some income may be allocated to meet the needs of a spouse or legal dependent.
• Must apply for nursing facility services.  An individual must have medical needs that require nursing facility level of care.  A BEAS health care professional determines if an individual meets the medical criteria for nursing facility level of care. 
• Note: Effective January 1, 2006, BEAS implemented a number of changes to the New Hampshire Medicaid medical eligibility determination process for Long Term Care services. Before applying or referring an individual to the HCBC-ECI program, consult to the information notice that describes the processes and forms for the NEW Medicaid Medical Eligibility Determination for Long Term Care.

For more information about Nursing Facilities, visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website.  The website has an online Nursing Home Comparison Tool to provide detailed information about the past performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the United States.