As states absorb Medicaid funding cuts, family caregivers face financial ruin

Article excerpt

In 2018, Kristine Fifer was lucky to avoid bankruptcy.  Her son, Eddie, had lost the nurse provided to him by the state after he turned 22. Maryland health officials told Fifer that he didn’t qualify for nursing care, even though Eddie’s cerebral palsy, feeding tube, and other complex medical conditions require around-the-clock care. Fifer spiraled as she sought to pay for the care Eddie needed. She lost her job, took on heaps of debt as bills piled up, and eventually called a lawyer about filing for bankruptcy.  Read the rest…