Son billed $93K for mom’s nursing home care

It’s called the “filial responsibility law” and it’s on the books in 30 states. However, this law is seldom enforce. Forbes reports that Pennsylvania resident John Pittas wasn’t that lucky. Following a car accident, his mother was admitted to a nursing home for rehabilitation. She had applied for Medicaid, but approval was not received prior to her discharge and her leaving the country.

Not to be stuck with an unpaid bill and unwilling to wait and resolve the issue with Medicaid, the facility sued Pittas to recover the $93K bill using this law.  And it won. Pittas appealed the decision to no avail. The appeals court upheld the decision.

This situation sounds an alarm for children of aging parents with families of their own to support.


Topics: Facility management , Medicare/Medicaid