Greetings all,
Let me share an email exchange I had with Carol Lucas regarding the tax deduction for medical expenses.
It would be interesting if any of you have had tax "advise" about this to share it with us.
Paul
MY EMAIL TO CAROL:
Re: the tax question.
You're info is the most inclusive I have seen. I am asked a couple times a year about the tax question--whether Charles House charges are eligible as a health care expense deduction.
My interpretation of the regulation/rule you cited:
> "Your adult day care expense might qualify as medical expense if you are
> receiving qualified long term care services and those services are
> provided pursuant to a plan of care prescribed by a licensed health care
> practitioner. It is very important to obtain and save certifications and
> care plans to substantiate the deduction."
The care plan--known as the Individual Service Plan--pursuant to the NC standards applicable to our certification, does NOT require a "licensed health care practitioner." The stronger documentation--from my interpretation would be your doctor's "medical order" prescribing care via Charles House.
The rule does not specifically call for the care itself to be provided by "licensed health care practitioners" so this shouldn't rule-out Charles House as eligible expenses.
IF, you want additional documentation, I can have a copy of our Individual Service Plan (which is hand written) available for you/your records or for you to have your physician "sign off on" as back-up. Just let me know.
I would also be interested in helping other families clarify this issue, if you have suggestions. In the past, we have tried NOT to dispense tax advice/interepretations and have encouraged caregivers to consult their tax advisors. But, the quote you provided seems clearer to me that with the physician's order for adult day center services, Charles House charges should fall within the definition of "might qualify as a medical expense."
Thanks,
Paul
Paul Klever
Executive Director
Charles House Association
919-967-7570
> [Original Message]
> Date: 3/10/2006 8:19:59 AM
> Subject: Ivy's Schedule
>
> Dear Paul,
>
> A question, relative to taxes. I was working on her taxes last
> night and am trying to find out the rules about adult day care and
> thought you might know.
.. All I could find was:
>
> "Your adult day care expense might qualify as medical expense if you are
> receiving qualified long term care services and those services are
> provided pursuant to a plan of care prescribed by a licensed health care
> practitioner. It is very important to obtain and save certifications and
> care plans to substantiate the deduction."
>
> We have a letter from [the physician], which reads rather like a long term
> treatment plan, stating "We suggest that you attend Charles House as
> much as possible...", but I don't know if that qualifies..
>
> Thanks for your input,
> Carol
> --
> ==========================================================
> Carol L. Lucas, Professor
> Biomedical Engineering, Surgery and Applied Sciences
> CB#7575, 152 MacNider Hall
> University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
> Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7575
> Phone: (919)966-2071, Fax: (919)966-2963
> ===========================================================
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