For additional information concerning mediation and conflict resolution, visit: Resolving Conflicts Through Collaborative Law For additional information concerning estate planning and administration, visit: Estate Planning and Administration read more →
Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the U.S. since 1949. As Mental Health Awareness Month, May is a time to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health issues, as well as highlighting the ways how mental illness and addiction can affect all of us – patients, providers, families, and our.. read more →
Since March of 2020, NJ Medicaid has followed special rules related to the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). These rules have allowed most NJ Medicaid recipients to keep their health coverage, even if they no longer qualified – for example, if their income was too high. However, once the federal government determines that the.. read more →
Under the Public Health Service Act, Pub.L. 78–410, when the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concludes that a disease or disorder presents a public health emergency, the agency may issue a declaration announcing that a public emergency exists. On January 31, 2020, HHS issued a declaration announcing that a public emergency existed based.. read more →
Recently, I read an interesting article in the Washington Post about Dateability, a dating app designed for disabled and chronically ill people. Dateability was launched this year, on October 21st. It carries the slogan “Making love accessible.” Some people with disabilities feel they are discriminated against by other users on dating platforms, and not seen.. read more →
Being able to make health care decisions for ourselves is very important, but what happens if you become incapacitated and are unable to voice an opinion concerning your medical care? If you don’t have a health care proxy or guardian in place, state law chooses who can make those decisions. A few states, such as.. 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 →
The number of people worldwide suffering from dementia is expected to rise to 78 million by 2030, a 40% increase from the estimated number of people worldwide currently suffering from the neurological disorder. By 2050, the number of people with dementia is expected to rise to a whopping 139 million. The estimates were contained in a report published.. read more →
No, it’s not a topic you usually talk about. Death is not a topic most people want to discuss, but funerals, cremations, and end-of-life medical costs today are surprisingly expensive and can result in a large bill for survivors. Thanks to the researchers at Self. Inc., we have data about the average cost of dying.. read more →
People receiving support through New Jersey’s Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) are able to choose the agency through which they will receive support coordination services. A Support Coordination Agency assigns a Support Coordinator to work with the disabled individual and his/her family. The Support Coordinator works closely with clients to identify their needs, and then,.. read more →
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published new guidance for day centers and the people with disabilities they serve during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance comes in two documents — one aimed at administrators and staff and another for participants and their caregivers — that were issued in March 2021. The new guidance indicates.. read more →
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that the tax deduction for medical expenses includes amounts spent on face masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes and related equipment, as long as the primary purpose for the purchase was to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Specially, the IRS announcement states that: [A]mounts paid for personal protective equipment,.. read more →
A webinar on financial protection of older adults during the COVID pandemic was held on February 23, 2021. The webinar provided tips to avoid vaccine-related scams and information on resources available to older adults. A recording of the webinar is now available for on-demand viewing, and can be accessed on this blog below. The webinar.. read more →
G.S. is a 24 year-old woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. G.S. took medication for her mental health issues, attended therapy, and lived in a group home for people diagnosed with mental illness. In 2015, G.S. applied for and was granted Medicaid benefits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). G.S. did.. read more →
Donald D. Vanarelli, Esq. (http://VanarelliLaw.com/) will present at a ZOOM Webinar on February 10, 2021 at 7:00 PM along with Spectrum Care Management and Counseling, LLC, a support coordination agency. Mr. Vanarelli will speak on planning to attain eligibility for Medicaid benefits from New Jersey’s Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, and how Medicaid.. read more →
New York was the only state that didn’t have a look-back period for Medicaid home care, but that is now changing. New York Medicaid applicants will no longer be eligible for home care if they gave away assets within 30 months of applying. Medicaid, unlike Medicare, is a public benefit program based upon financial need,.. 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 Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018 (Strengthening Protections Act) amended the Social Security Act to allow for the advance designation of representative payees for recipients of Social Security and other governmental benefits. The Strengthening Protections Act requires the Social Security Administration (SSA) to promulgate regulations specifying the information Social Security beneficiaries.. read more →
To help today’s Medicare beneficiaries, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) combined eight Compare tools, allowing users to easily find information that is most important in making health care decisions. The new platform is currently up and running. Using the new Care Compare Tool, CMS combined 8 original provider Compare websites. In the.. read more →
Millions of Americans manage money or property for a loved one who’s unable to pay bills or make financial decisions. To help financial caregivers, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or the CFPB, worked closely with the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging to prepare four (4) consumer guides: Help for agents under a.. read more →
Many VA Medical Centers across the country are re-opening their doors and expanding services. To ensure the protection of both patients and staff, the VA’s Office of Information and Technology launched the COVID-19 digital pre-entry screening tool. The digital pre-entry screening tool allows Veterans, caregivers, and employees to answer questions on their mobile phones and share their.. read more →
Planning the long-term future of a child with special needs can be the source of enormous stress for parents. Among the challenges of raising a child with special needs is figuring out how to provide for that child once you’re gone. If the child will never be able to earn a living, how can you determine.. read more →
In New Jersey, all guardians are appointed by the Superior Court of New Jersey. A “guardian” is a person appointed by a court to make decisions regarding the person or property of an incapacitated adult. A person is “incapacitated” under the law if he or she “is impaired by reason of mental illness or mental.. read more →
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has asked the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) to share the following information with NOSSCR members, SSA and SSI disability claimants with pending appeals and other interested parties: Dear Colleague, I want to share an update regarding ways to contact our hearing offices during the Coronavirus (COVID-19).. read more →
Each year on June 15, the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is celebrated by sharing resources to help prevent elder financial exploitation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal agency, defines “elder financial abuse” as a situation in which “someone uses an older adult’s resources improperly or deprives an older adult of access to,.. read more →
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