Most of our clients undertake Medicaid planning so that they may be eligible for Medicaid services in the future. When gifting and transfers are completed there are several complicated rules which must be followed. One of those rules was just updated for 2013. The Office of Health Insurance Programs issued a General Information Systems message outlining the new Medicaid “Regional Rates” which must be used to determine a transfer penalty period for coverage of nursing facilities. The following rates are based on average private pay nursing home costs in each of the seven regions in the State and are effective as of January 1, 2013. Please note that these are rates used by Medicaid and that the actual monthly cost of Nursing homes is considerably more.

Long Island: $12,034
New York City: $11,350
Northern Metropolitan: $10,737
Central NY: $8,432
Northeastern NY: $8,950
Western NY: $8,682
Rochester: $9,782