My mom's nursing home says we owe over $20,000 from before Medicaid was active. She was paying them out of her SS and pension which now goes directly to the nursing home. They harass her and my self weekly for this money. They want us to sell our house which is NOT in my mother's name to pay the debt within 10 days or they will throw her out or sue us or both. What, if anything can I do?
Ask the nursing home to walk through the bill with you so you know why they're claiming what they are. If it doesn't sound reasonable or on the up and up - get yourself to an attorney, as the others replies suggest. If it is a figure that is legitimate perhaps you can come to an agreement on a payment plan.
You mention that your mothers SS and pension was paying prior to Medicaid- I'm guessing that that was only paying a portion of the bill - otherwise Medicaid wouldn't be needed and the cost would continue to be covered with your mothers own money.
Don't ignore this and don't ignore or avoid talking to the accounting person at the nursing home. See if you can have a sit-down with them to find out where things went wrong - if a bill that size built up, there's either an error, or you weren't aware that the money had to be paid - but you need to find out why.