Bob Linhares Elder Law

03/09/2020

If you know someone who receives Medicare benefits and has been told that they can no longer receive physical therapy because they are not "improving" and thus do not meet the standard for continued therapy PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THEY CANNOT BE DENIED THERAPY FOR THIS REASON. Even though they are not "improving", as long as the therapy is helping them in some way, such as keeping them from declining more rapidly than if they did not get the therapy, Medicare should cover the therapy. Please see the link to the toolkit that can help you fight to for your right to continue therapy.

Jimmo v. Sebelius, No. 11-cv-17 (D. VT), is a nationwide class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries who received care in skilled nursing facilities, home health care, and outpatient therapy and who were denied Medicare coverage on the basis that they were not improving or did n...

03/09/2020

If you receive Medicare and are in the hospital overnight, please be on the alert...you may be placed on "observation status" as opposed to "in-patient care" status and as a result end up with a significant increase in medical expenses. If this happens to you or someone you know, you need to take steps to appeal this. Watch this video for a good explanation of "observation status" and visit the center for medicare advocacy website for more information:

The Center is part of a coalition of organizations fighting the continued harm caused by Observation Status through advocacy and education, efforts which will be greatly enhanced by our work with the John A. Hartford foundation. In addition, The Center for Medicare Advocacy, along with co-counsel Ju...

03/09/2020

For those receiving Medicaid, this post may help you understand how Medicare and Medicaid work together.

Here are a few examples of how Medicaid can work with Medicare. Medicaid can provide secondary insurance: For services covered by Medicare and Medicaid …

03/09/2020

All of these documents are important estate planning tools that can help protect your family and friends: Revocable and Irrevocable trusts, Wills, financial and healthcare power of attorney documents, advanced healthcare directives, Medicaid planning, special needs trusts, beneficiary deeds, transfer on death or payable on death designations. I can explain these concepts and establish a plan that accomplishes your goals. Call me to discuss and set up an appointment.

03/03/2020