A New York Times article this week took a look at the consequences of a Medicaid change engineered by Governor Cuomo in the hopes of saving money: switching to “managed-care” for NY Medicaid programs. The basic idea is straightforward: switch from paying providers a “fee for service” and instead make…
It can can a confusing, scary, and stressful time for all New Yorkers who use the Medicaid system for necessary health care or for those who suspect they may need it down the road. Not a day goes by that news does not break at either the state or national…
Reuters published a story this week on the latest audit of the New York Medicaid system which has given leverage to those hoping to use financial worry to trim the system and the state budget overall. We have previously discussed the audit by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services…
As most know, the March 1st “sequester” cut deadline came and went without much serious action by policymakers to avert the automatic cuts. This was not unexpected considering policymakers have been very far off on goals for a compromise and because the $85 billion in first year cuts will not…
It is not easy for many local residents to understand all of the ins and out of the Medicaid program. While Medicaid is a critical tool that provides support for local seniors who need long-term care, it can be a whirlwind of stress, anxiety, and frustration when families attempt to…
Many of the changes and new rules associated with health insurance as part of the “Affordable Care Act” (Obamacare) will only take effect over the next year or two. One of those new rules prohibits most health insurance providers from making premium pricing decisions based on one’s gender. However, those…
It is commonly understood that elder abuse is a serious concern that often goes unreported. But there remains less certainty about the best ways to address the problem. A recent Buffalo News editorial argued that more needs to be done at the state and federal level to tackle the issues.…
Many seniors and their families only learn about the significant cost of nursing home care when they begin planning for it later in life. New York is one of the most expensive in the country, with annually costs reaching $100,000 or more to live in a skilled nursing facility. NY…
The legal professionals at our firm provide elder law and estate planning services. Many community members are familiar with the basics of estate planning. Tasks like designing wills, creating trusts, and putting inheritance plans into place are understood by most when thinking about “later in life” legal issues. However, elder…
Few seniors have the resources to pay for long-term skilled nursing home stays. As we have previously discussed, New York maintains one of the highest average cost per day rates at these facilities. For most families, those costs are far more than they are able to pay from their own…