Moorestown, NJ (Law Firm Newswire) May 16, 2012 - Global Options for Long Term Care (GO) is a Medicaid Waiver program for certain low-income individuals eligible for a nursing facility level of care, but who wish to remain in their homes.

Services provided by this program include, but are not limited to, Attendant Care, Care Management, Chore Service, Home Based Supportive Care, Social Adult Day Care, Transportation, as well as the Medicaid State Plan Services of New Jersey Title XIX.

“Global Options is an excellent alternative for individuals who wish to receive care in their own homes,” said Susan M. Green, an elder law attorney with Begley Law Group in Moorestown, New Jersey. “GO enrollees are provided with two specific opportunities to direct their own services: access to the Personal Preference program or utilization of Participant Employed Providers.”

Personal Preference

Participants who are eligible for services of a Medicaid Personal Care Assistant can control the direction of their own care. The participant will work with a consultant for management of fiscal matters to develop a plan for managing cash, through use of a cash allowance each month. The participant determines the services needed and the entities he or she wishes to hire. Even with this option, the participant is still required to receive at least two waiver services each month, one of which is care management.

Participant Employed Providers

A participant who is either capable of directing his or her own care, or who has a legally responsible relative or representative who can act on his or her behalf, may hire a Participant Employed Provider, or PEP, as an employee for certain services. These services include transportation services, chores, and home-based supportive care.

Additionally, participants who are able to control the direction of their own care can employ a PEP for attendant care, as long as this has been previously authorized and evaluated by a registered nurse. A participant’s spouse, relative with legal responsibility, legal guardian, person with an active power of attorney, or authorized representative is not permitted to be a service provider.

New Jersey’s billing agent acts as the participant’s agent for payroll and fiscal matters to fulfill all tax and other obligations that accompany the participant’s role as an employer.

To learn more about the Begley Law Group or to contact a New Jersey life care planning attorney, call 1.800.533.7227 or visit www.begleylawgroup.com.

Colleen Caruso
Begley Law Group, P.C.
509 S. Lenola Road, Building 7
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Tel: 800.533.7227