Elder Law Prof Blog

One of my favorite sessions is the first, "The Year in Review," a long tradition at ELI and currently
presented by Marielle Hazen and Rob Clofine. Marielle reviews new legislation and regulations,
both at the state and federal level, while Rob does a "Top Ten Cases" review. Both speakers focus
not just on what happened in the last 12 months, but what could or should happen in the future.
They frequently pose important policy perspectives, based on recent events.
Report on a number of lower court decisions involving nursing home payment issues, including a
report on a troubling case, Estate of Parker, 4 Pa. Fiduciary Reporter 3d 183 (Orphans' Court,
Montgomery County, PA 2014), in which a court-appointed guardian of the estate of an elderly
nursing home patient "agreed" to entry of a judgment, not just for nursing home charges, but also
for pre- and post-judgment interest, plus attorneys' fees for the nursing home's lawyer of almost
20% of Wills the stipulated judgment, in what was an uncontested guardianship.
Important to my advice was the fact that ELI is organized well for both "newbies" and more
experienced practitioners. After the first two-hour joint session, over the course of two days there
are four sessions offered every hour. One entire track is devoted to "Just the Basics" and is perfect
for the aspiring elder law attorney. Indeed, I usually sponsor two Penn State law students to
attend. As in most specializations, in elder law there will is a steep learning curve just to
understand the basic jargon, and the more exposure the better.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Recently a former law student who is considering a career change asked me about elder law,
wanting to meet with me to discuss what is involved. I'm happy to chat any time with current and
former students, especially about elder law, but this time my advice was simple: "Drop everything
and go to Pennsylvania's 2014 Elder Law Institute." Indeed, this year saw some 400 individuals
attend.
Highlights from the 17th Annual Elder Law Institute in Pennsylvania
Analysis of the GAO Report on "Medicaid: Financial Characteristics of Approved Applicants and
Methods Used to Reduce Assets to Qualify for Nursing Home Coverage" released in late June
2014. Data collection efforts focused on four states and reportedly included "under cover"
individuals posing as potential applicants. The report summarizes techniques used to reduce
countable resources, most occuring well within the rules and thus triggering no question of penalty
periods. Whether Congress uses the report in any way to confirm or change existing rules remains
to be seen.
A GAO Report on Medicaid Managed Care programs, also released in June, concluding that
additional oversight efforts are needed to ensure the integrity of programs in the states, which are
already reporting higher increases in outgoing funds than fee-for-service programs.
In light of the number of nursing home payment cases in Rob's review, perhaps it wasn't a surprise
that my co-presenter, Stanley Vasiliadis, and I had a full house for our session on "Why Am I Being
Sued for My Parents' Nursing Home Bill?" We examined how adult children (and sometimes elderly
parents of adult children in care) are finding themselves the target of collection efforts by nursing
homes, including actions based on theories of breach of promise (contract, quatum meruit, and
promissory estoppel), fault (common law fraud or statutory claims of "fraudulent transfers), or
family status, such as statutory filial support.
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/elder_law/2014/07/highlights-from-the-17th-annual-elder-law-instit
ute-in-pennsylvania.html
Among the highlights from the year in review session:
Current Affairs, Elder Abuse/Guardianship/Conservatorship, Estates and Trusts, Ethical Issues,
Federal Cases, Health Care/Long Term Care, Housing, Legal Practice/Practice Management,
Medicaid, Medicare, Programs/CLEs, State Cases, State Statutes/Regulations | Permalink
The extensive course materials from all of the presenters, both in hard copy and electronic formats,
are available for purchase directly from the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.
The need to keep an eye open for Pennsylvania's Long Term Care Comission report, expected by
December 2014. Will it take issue with the Governor's rejection of the Affordable Care Act's funding
for expansion of Medicaid?