Elder Law Section
The Elder Law Section focuses on matters related to serving elderly clients, who present unique problems. Attorneys who wish to provide top-quality legal service to their senior clients must be cognizant of their special needs and how those needs manifest in all areas of law. Therefore, education is a significant goal of the Section.
Upcoming Events
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Elder Law Section Grant Program, 2008-2009
The practitioners of the WSBA Elder Law Section recognize the importance for all seniors to have access to legal services. Several years ago, the Section established an annual grant program to financially assist with the on-going operation of community service programs which assist seniors with legal issues.
For the 2008-2009 program year, a total up to $15,000 is available to be awarded to recipients in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
Recipients will be announced at the Elder Law Section annual meeting on September 12, 2008. For additional questions, please contact Richard C. Tizzano, Grant Program Chair, at 360-697-7132 or richardt@legalpeaceofmind.com.
Effort to Increase the Medicaid Income-Eligibility Level
The Section executive committee adopted a resolution on December 7, 2007, calling for an increase in the Medicaid income eligibility level (both the categorically needy income level and the medically needy income level) to the federal poverty level. The resolution relates to Medicaid eligibility for non-institutional care for adults who are 65 or older or disabled. (A different, and higher, income-eligibility level applies for long-term care.) The income-eligibility levels that currently apply are less than 75% of the federal poverty level. For 2008, they are $637/month for one person. The federal poverty level for one person is $867.
The Section has invited other organizations to join in supporting the increase, and many have done so. For a short description of the increase proposal and a list of supporting organizations, please click here.
A related bill, sponsored by Senators Brandland and Hargrove and supported by the Section, was adopted by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in 2008. In its initial form, the bill would have increased the categorically needy income level (CNIL) to the federal poverty level (FPL), effective July 2008. In its final form, SSB 6583 increases the CNIL to 80% of the FPL, effective July 2009, provided that funds for the purpose are appropriated in the next biennial budget. For the text and other information about the bill, please click here.
Current work in furtherance of the Section resolution includes: efforts to promote inclusion in the executive branch budget proposal for the next biennium of funds to increase the CNIL to at least 80% of the FPL and efforts to maintain the current parity between the CNIL and the medically needy income level.
Questions about the effort to increase the Medicaid income-eligibility levels may be directed to Section secretary Peter Greenfield at peter.greenfield@columbialegal.org.
Other Section Activities
The Elder Law newsletter, published quarterly, carries substantive articles useful as a resource. Future plans for the Section include establishing regional chairs who will conduct informative round tables for local elder law attorneys and public outreach on significant issues through the public affairs committee. Committees include
Section Member List Serve: To join the member list serve, please send your e-mail address and Bar number to questions@wsba.org.
Join the Elder Law Section today by going online or calling in your payment of dues to the Service Center.
For more information, please contact the Section chair:
Jeff B. Crollard
E-mail: jcrollard@trialsmiths.com
Elder Law Web Links
