This is from the Courthouse News Service showing why a class action lawsuit has been filed against the Connecticut Department of Social Services.
http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/01/11/42941.htm . No matter which media outlet you choose, it is apparent Medicare and Medicaid are under attack. A legal services group in Connecticut has decided to fight back. Here's is the situation.
A Federal Law states that Medicaid applications have to be processed within 45 days. According to the article , the lead plaintiff in this case ( and nearly 5000 others) did not have his case determined in a timely manner as required . Connecticut ,over the past years, has not provided adequate staffing to process these cases according to the lawsuit. As employees leave the agency, they haven't been replaced causing the delays. Eligible individuals cannot access the medical treatment needed because of these delays.
Here's a problem for Connecticut and other states that consistently under staff Medicaid agencies. Look at the last sentence of the article on page one ending on page two : " states must comply with federal law if they want to continue to receive hundreds of millions of dollars of federal reimbursement under Medicaid". If they don't act, money will be lost.
Connecticut isn't the only state facing a lawsuit. This past week , I received an email from a Massachusetts attorney looking for cases that haven't been processed within the 45 day federal requirement . I expect more lawsuits to follow . Stay tuned.
The above article is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Please consult an attorney for your particular issue.