As stated in prior blog posts, Attorneys Donald D. Vanarelli, Esq. Chen Li, Esq. and Matthew J. Nolfo, Esq. presented a live webinar earlier this year entitled “Protecting Your Assets from Catastrophic Nursing Home Costs in New York and New Jersey.” The webinar explains how to utilize Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Veterans Benefits, and Long-Term.. read more →

Earlier this year, Attorneys Donald D. Vanarelli, Esq. Chen Li, Esq. and Matthew J. Nolfo, Esq., all of whom are admitted to practice Elder Law and Estate Planning in both New Jersey and New York, presented a live webinar entitled “Protecting Your Assets from Catastrophic Nursing Home Costs in New York and New Jersey.” The.. read more →

In this case, K.L., a Medicaid applicant, was assessed a penalty period, or period or ineligibility for Medicaid nursing home benefits, of 604 days based upon (1) the failure to obtain fair market value for a life estate owned by K.L. when real estate containing the life estate interest was sold, and (2) a number.. read more →

In this case, Petitioner’s son, P.M., resided with his mother, Petitioner R.M., for more than fifty years, in R.M.’s home. In December 2019, R.M. was admitted to a nursing facility. Since that time, R.M. no longer resided at her former home. After R.M. was admitted into the nursing facility, P.M. and Petitioner’s daughter, R.K., petitioned the court for legal.. read more →

In 2009, Petitioner executed a power of attorney (POA) in favor of her daughter, Vera. Ten years later, petitioner became a nursing home resident because she suffered from dementia and was no longer capable of managing her affairs. In January 2019, a social worker at the facility filed an initial Medicaid application on petitioner’s behalf… read more →

This matter arose from the imposition of a transfer penalty on Petitioner’s receipt of Medicaid benefits. Beginning in 2018, Petitioner resided with her son, R. R., and R. R. ‘s wife. Petitioner previously resided in her own home. On November 1, 2018, Petitioner and R. R. executed a “Room Rental Agreement, ” wherein Petitioner agreed to.. read more →

In this case, C.L., a resident of a nursing home, applied for Medicaid benefits. The state’s Medicaid agency, the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS), denied her application. DMAHS determined an annuity C.L. purchased, which she understood to be irrevocable, was instead found to be revocable by the agency and counted as a.. read more →

A.V. suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In January 2021, A.V. moved into a skilled nursing facility. That April, she filed her first application for Medicaid benefits, seeking a community spouse resource allowance for her husband, J.V.  In June 2021, the Cumberland County Board of Social Services (CCBSS) denied the claim, advising A.V. and J.V… read more →

In this case, an administrative law judge held that a Medicaid applicant’s transfer of her home to her adult child who lived with and cared for her for many years was entitled to Medicaid benefits under the “caretaker child” exemption to the transfer of assets rules even though the child worked part-time outside the home… read more →

In this case, the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division, reversed a final decision of the state Medicaid agency imposing a 203-day period of disqualification for Medicaid benefits based upon the applicant’s alleged transfer of assets for less than fair market value within the five-year look-back period before the applicant entered a nursing home. J.F… read more →

Listed below are the top ten (10) posts on the Vanarelli Law Office blog and website articles with the highest readership in 2021, as measured by the number of “unique page views” of each blog post. The title of each article is hyperlinked to the original posting on the blog so that each article is.. read more →

Recently, CMS Issued New Guidance for Unrestricted Visitation in Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Nursing homes have been severely impacted by COVID-19, with outbreaks causing high rates of infection and death. In March 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memorandum providing guidance to facilities on restricting visitation.. read more →

L.C. and his spouse R.S. sold their marital residence, and gave the proceeds of sale and other cash gifts to their daughter V.R. and her husband I.R. The total amount gifted was $435,000. V.R. and I.R. used the gifted assets to purchase a home. L.C. and R.S. lived at this home with V.R. and I.R… read more →

C.H., a resident of a long-term care facility, filed an application for nursing home Medicaid benefits. The Medicaid agency requested additional financial documentation from petitioner and petitioner’s designated authorized representative (DAR). The applicant’s DAR experienced repeated difficulties in obtaining the financial information requested by Medicaid. During those efforts, the DAR and the Medicaid caseworker exchanged.. read more →

New Jersey appeals court affirmed denial of Medicaid application for failure to verify recurring bank transactions on applicant’s bank statements even though the transactions may have been part of a scam. G.M. v. Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (N.J. Super. Ct., App. Div., No. A-0433-19, June 16, 2021). G.M. was eighty-three years old, suffered.. read more →

In this case, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held that property in an irrevocable trust is not countable by Medicaid even if the grantor/applicant retains a limited power of appointment over the property in the trust. Patricia A. Fournier vs. Secretary of the Exec. Office of Health & Human Services (SJC-13059, July 23, 2021) (SJC-13059,.. read more →

R.M. applied for nursing home Medicaid benefits to the State Medicaid agency, the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services. The Division denied the application because she failed to provide necessary financial verifications. R.M. appealed the denial, and the Division conducted a fair hearing. As a result, the Division gave R.M. additional time to supply.. read more →

In this case, a New Jersey appeals court held that a Medicaid applicant’s transfer of her home to her adult child who lived with and cared for her for many years was entitled to Medicaid benefits under the “caretaker child” exemption to the transfer of assets rules even though the child worked full-time outside the.. read more →

This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published revised guidelines for nursing home visits during the pandemic. The new recommendations are the first revision to the federal government’s nursing home guidance since September 2020. They are effective immediately. The new recommendations allow indoor and outdoor visits for all residents, except in limited.. read more →

A New York appeals court held that transfers made by a Medicaid applicant before she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease were not transfers for less than market value subject to penalty because the transfers were made as part of a history of gifting to her children done exclusively for a purpose other than to qualify.. read more →

An appeals court held that an agreement to apply for Medicaid benefits for a nursing home resident made by the resident’s guardian or family members may be legally enforceable by the nursing facility in which the resident resides. Pine Brook Care Center v. D’Alessandro, Docket No. A-3197-18T1 (NJ Appellate Division, November 23, 2020) In April.. read more →

On October 15, 2020, Attorney Donald D. Vanarelli, Esq. presented a live Webinar in which attendees learned how to Protect their Assets from the Catastrophic Costs of Probate, Long-Term Care and Nursing Home Expenses. Webinar Topics Included: Care options and typical costs of care in New Jersey in various settings. How to qualify for government.. read more →

The Seventh Circuit vacated a district court decision that allowed an Indiana Medicaid recipient to hire her own in-home health care providers as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, holding that more evidence was needed to determine if the recipient’s request can be granted consistent with federal requirements for funding. Vaughn v. Walthall (U.S… read more →

E.H., a 78 year old female, received $1,471.50 in monthly social security benefits. On April 1, 2019, E.H.’s checking account, contained $1,991.78. On April 4, 2019, E.H. applied for benefits under New Jersey’s Family Care Aged, Blind and Disabled Medicaid program. As part of her Medicaid application, E.H. submitted a pre-paid burial contract. Although pre-paid.. read more →

The New Jersey Director of Medicaid approved the transfer of an applicant’s home to a “caregiver child” who worked full-time because the applicant qualified medically for comprehensive home-based services under the Medicaid program. A.H. v. Bergen County Board of Social Services, OAL DKT. NO. HMA 09215-19 (June 26, 2020) When she was 92 years old,.. read more →