Nursing homes in Pennsylvania often have to engage in complicated billing practices to get the payment they deserve for services rendered. Many nursing homes have to jump through the metaphorical hoops established by Medicaid to take government payments on behalf of residents.
Another concern is the possibility of someone dying while living as a nursing home resident. If someone has Medicaid to cover their costs, collecting payment for their final invoice won’t be a challenge. However, if they pay for their services on their own behalf, your facility may need to engage in collection efforts.
Timely action will be crucial if you want to collect the full amount owed by the now-deceased resident.
There are limits on Pennsylvania estate claims
Obviously, when someone lives at your facility, you will likely know right away when they die. Having this knowledge is advantageous for the purpose of debt collection. The debts owed by someone when they die become the responsibility of their estate.
Although you may want to give the family some time to handle the funeral, timely billing for services rendered followed by a prompt probate claim will be the best approach to collect in full for the services rendered. The family or executor may pay right away, or they may require that you file a claim through the probate courts.
If you have to make a claim on the debt through the courts, you only have one year to make the claim or you risk losing the right to collect at all. There is nothing aggressive or inappropriate about sending prompt notification of someone’s final balance and quickly pursuing the claim against their estate. Learning more about the rules that apply to estate collection efforts can help nursing homes in Pennsylvania get the payment they deserve.