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HellpI got a letter from mom's nursing home's new pharmacy. They are looking for a "responsible party/guarantor" to sign a contract for pharmacy services. This requires that the resident or responsible party will assume responsibilities for bills.
She has dementia and has been declared incompetent. I do not agree with the assessment but she does not have a POA. I am helping out long distance. She is not on medicaid yet but should be when the slow moving paperwork is done. Any payments would come from her bank account as long as there are funds.
My question is, can I get someone to simply explain the document to her and have her sign? I currently manage her autopays and bills as best I can but I am concerned about being legally held responsible these contracted payments.
Thanks

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To close, I got through to her NH. They said to put her Medicare id ad the guarantor.
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Reply to kenmtb
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Is there an option to state that you will only pay them out of your mom's assets and not yours?
And, since Medicaid is pending, there shouldn't be a (large) prescription copay once it kicks in, and they pay retroactively from the date the application is submitted.
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Ken, who now is in charge of Moms care? I read where you don't have POA. That limits what you can legally do. Since DSS is now involved, has the State taken over her care? If so, you should not be getting anything in regards to her care.
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Sign nothing you are not sure of. Tell them you are not POA and you will not be responsible for the cost of her medications.

If DSS is handling her Medicaid application, do you have any authority at all concerning making decisions for Mom? I would call Moms DSS caseworker and tell them about the paperwork you received. Maybe the caseworker can call the pharmacy and tell them that Mom will be on Medicaid shortly and they will be the ones paying for her medications. Maybe even the facility will pass on the info to the Pharmacy.

My Mom was in an AL and then LTC and I don't remember getting anything from the pharmacy about payment. Maybe because she was already on PADD which is a perscription plan thru the State.
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kenmtb Jan 9, 2026
Very good advice. I am looking into the company PharmScript who sent the letter. The letter appeared to come from mom's nursing home but I do not see any other link to them. I asked the NH if this was a required thing as mom already has prescription coverage....I thought. The NH is hard to reach by phone so I am waiting on email.

I looked at feedback from PharmScript online and it does not look good. I am wondering if they are trying to pull something. Most of the letter covers payments and guarantors for their services. They did not even include a return envelope.
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Your mother is increasingly descending into dementia. Do you imagine that SHE can apply for Medicaid, handle the questions, and etc. Of course, she cannot. So this pharmacy thing is the tip of a very nasty iceberg.

If you cannot now go there, get an attorney, and be made POA it will likely very soon be too late. If she is capable now of understanding POA and your need to service all bills, EVERYTHING, including application to Medicaid, etc, then she can make you POA now. Once that is done however you will be up the creek with no paddle. Eventually, if you cannot or don't wish to be her POA, your Mom has to have a guardianship by the state. This may be the best option.

Start now with speaking to her facility. Ask for a Social worker working there. Discuss where you are and what the options are. You have decisions to make, and this pharmacy thing is likely the easiest of any coming your way.

I was POA and Trustee of Trust for my brother when he was diagnosed with probable early Lewy's Dementia by symptoms. He was capable of putting me in CHARGE OF EVERYTHING and I did everything from bills, to banking. He had a small personal spending account of his own for trips from his ALF to buy things.

This is difficult to manage when you are not there, and in my case only half the state away was enough; still needed the plane to get there when I had to be there. The learning curve was steep. If you do not wish to do this, if her money is running out, now is the time to tell APS she is a senior in need and that you cannot serve as her POA from so far away, nor do you wish to.

I wish you good luck.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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kenmtb Jan 8, 2026
Thanks for the reply. Medicaid is being handled by DSS and they are almost done. Managing her bills and such is not an issue at all. She has around 30K in the bank and is getting a good pension while Medicaid is being processed. This has been the only issue I am concerned about.

Maybe there is nothing to worry about, I am not really comfortable signing the document as the responsible party as I am just getting by as it is. I really do not know the implications of what her insurance company brings.

Mom, at this point has a pretty good grasp on things. I know she would understand the document. I was thinking of having her helper deliver the letter for her to sign after I briefed her. Im guessing it would satisfy the pharmacy people.
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I can't answer your question (whether someone can simply explain the document to your mom and have her sign it). I will say that I agree with what you're implying, that you signing the document is not a good idea.
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