The 22nd Annual Theresa Awards
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Theresa who had a pink wheelchair. She had big brown eyes, fabulous pigtails, and the greatest smile on earth. Every day she would go to school in a small yellow…
Life with Dementia: A Caregiver’s Perspective
Last Wednesday, March 30, 2016, we were inspired by Dr. Susan Farella-Busch’s most thoughtful discussion on “life with dementia.” You could hear a pin drop in the room of over 70 health care professionals at our Round Table Luncheon at…
Medicaid Is Under Attack!
As in years past, the government continues to look for ways to restrict Medicaid eligibility and benefits. This year has been no different. There were proposals to further restrict Medicaid eligibility and coverage. As part of the governor’s annual budget,…
April Is National Autism Awareness Month
It seems that almost every day, the media reminds us that it is a National Day or Month: National Puppy Day, National Dessert Day, National Ice Cream Month, etc.
What comes to mind when you think of April? April Fools’ Day? Although you wouldn’t be incorrect, in the realm of autism, April marks the first day of National Autism Awareness Month.
Can I Disinherit My Spouse?
Under New York law, the answer as to whether you can disinherit your spouse is … not really. In New York, there is something called the spousal right of election, which states that a surviving spouse has the right to assert…
Medicaid: Understanding the Complex Rules and Exceptions
When speaking with clients about the complicated Medicaid rules, availability, and exceptions, they often reply something like, “Wow, there’s so much to know.” Clients come to us because we know the rules, and more importantly, we know the exceptions. Case…
How Do I Disinherit Someone in My Will?
Oftentimes when creating an estate plan, it is requested that a family member or friend be disinherited. There are many reasons why one would chose to disinherit someone: Perhaps the person creating the estate plan has already provided the family…
Think You Have to Disinherit Your Child with Special Needs? Think Again!
Many families assume it’s better to disinherit their child with special needs. Their intentions are loving—they don’t want the child to lose their government benefits as a result of inheriting; they don’t want to do their child more harm than…
Planning Hospice Care: Dignity Prevails
Caring for a loved one at the end of his or her life is both a duty and a privilege. Hospice is a type of care for individuals who have 6 months or less to live. Instead of trying to…
Understanding Medicare: The Observation Status Glitch
The federal government recently addressed a very expensive glitch in the systematic treatment of patients in hospitals throughout the country, which mandates that hospitals provide notice as to a patient’s observation status.
As we discussed in our blog post on May 31, 2013, “Status Does Matter: Observation v. Admission”, there is a big problem that many Medicare recipients have been facing: patients are footing the bill. The problem is that patients are footing the bill for rehabilitation services in a skilled nursing facility when they are under the impression that these services are covered by Medicare. At the heart of the problem is that the hospital never actually admitted the patient, and coded them with a status of “under observation.”