Nursing Home Turnover Rates and Weekend Help Estate Planning Attorney Joseph Hudack says that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it will add data on nursing home turnover rates and weekend staffing levels to its Care Compare website, giving consumers another tool when choosing a nursing home. The official Medicare website…
Nursing Home Workers Salary Study Raising the minimum wage by as little as 10 percent would significantly improve the safety and health of nursing home residents, according to new research “Nursing Home Workers Salary”. Most direct care in nursing homes is provided by nursing assistants, who make up about 40 percent of the nursing home…
Pandemic May Affect Long-Term Care Insurance Estate Planning Attorney Joseph Hudack knows that the coronavirus pandemic may affect long-term care insurance, a devastating impact on the elderly, particularly those in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. This has raised questions about how the virus has influenced the costs and provision of long-term care insurance,…
Fight Over James Brown’s Estate Litigation over James Brown’s estate has been dragging on for 14 years, but the case took a big step towards resolution when the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that the woman claiming a spousal share in Mr. Brown’s estate was never legally married to him. Mr. Brown, known as the…
Long-Reviled Military Widow’s Tax A controversial policy that reduces the benefits of military spouses is on the way out. The so-called “widow’s tax” cuts assistance to surviving military spouses who qualify for benefits under two different military benefits programs. The two programs are: The Department of Defense’s Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), which allows military retirees…
Corona Estate Planning Attorney Tips for Having The Talk with Elderly Parents Corona Estate Planning Attorney Joseph Hudack says that talking about estate planning is a difficult emotional topic, but it’s essential for every family. Unless you’re certain your parents have an up-to-date will and a wider plan for what should happen in the event…
Can You Transfer Medicare and Medicaid Plans? Corona Estate Planning Attorney Joseph Hudack gets asked if you plan to move states, can you transfer Medicare or Medicaid plans with you? The answer depends on whether you have original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or Medicaid. Can I Move My Medicare? If you have original Medicare (Plans A…
Iowa Law Make Spouses Liable for Necessary Family Expenses An Iowa appeals court rules that the wife of a nursing home resident is liable to the “unpaid nursing home expenses” for her husband’s balance under a state law charging spouses for reasonable and necessary family expenses. Bethany Lutheran Health Services v. Cumpston (Iowa Ct. App.,…
Medicaid Penalty Period Anyone who gifted assets within five years of applying for Medicaid may be subject to a penalty period, but that penalty can be reduced or eliminated if the assets are returned. In order to be eligible for Medicaid, you cannot have recently transferred assets. Congress does not want you to move into…
Medicare Premiums Increase 2022 Medicare premiums are rising sharply next year, cutting into the large Social Security cost-of-living increase. The basic monthly premium will jump 15.5 percent, or $21.60, from $148.50 to $170.10 a month. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the premium and other Medicare cost increases on November 12, 2021.…