The effect of nursing home use on Medicaid eligibility.

Presented are results of a descriptive analysis of the effects of nursing home use on Medicaid eligibility status. Data from the 1982 and 1984 National Long-Term Care Surveys were used to track a cohort of disabled elderly persons residing in the community in 1982 over the 2 years that followed. Although 12% spent some time in nursing homes between 1982 and 1984, about 40% was for short stays. In contrast to persons who did not use nursing homes, persons who entered nursing homes had a 4- to 5-fold risk of spending down to Medicaid eligibility.