HEALTH CARE
Stimulus Check Payments & Nursing Home Residents
submitted by Liam McMahon, Paralegal On Dec. 21, 2020, Congress passed a new economic stimulus bill that included a second round of economic impact payments (also called stimulus checks or IRS payments). Eligible individuals qualify for up to $600 and with the IRS reporting that two thirds of payments have already been sent, here is…
Read MoreNursing Home Involuntary Transfer/Discharge: The Resident’s Right to Appeal
submitted by Bria Lewis, Esq. Every resident living in a nursing home, regardless whether they are there for a short-term rehabilitation stay or long-term care, has the right to receive a written notice prior to being transferred or discharged to a different facility or location. While many residents voluntarily leave the nursing home, often after…
Read MoreAdvocating for Legislative Change to Improve Long-Term Care in New York State
submitted by Lindsay Heckler, Esq. Intro: The Community Must Become Involved in the Legislative Process The growing crisis of substandard care in nursing homes and adult care facilities is not new and has existed prior to the pandemic. New York has ignored the challenges older adults and people with disabilities have faced living in…
Read MoreCOVID-19: What New Yorkers Need to Know
Erin Riker, Esq. Coordinator, CELJ Senior Legal Advice Helpline This page contains information about changes in laws, emergency declarations, and other government actions that affect your life in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. This page will be updated monthly, or as significant conditions change. It is current as of 12:00pm on December 16, 2020. …
Read MoreCMS Announces New Healthcare Consumer Website
submitted by Liam McMahon, Paralegal In September of this year the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched a new website called Care Compare (https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/). The website is intended to allow consumers, patients, and caregivers to make informed decisions about their healthcare based on cost, quality of care, volume of services, and other data. In…
Read MoreResident Right to Access the Community during the Pandemic: Holiday Guidance for Nursing Homes and Adult Care Facilities
submitted by Lindsay Heckler, Esq. Residents who live in adult care facilities and nursing homes (including for short-term rehabilitation stays) have the right to leave the building and access the community. Access to the community includes: medical appointments, social visits, religious services, gatherings with family/friends, and more. Both New York State (NYS) and the federal…
Read MoreNursing Home and Adult Care Facility Visitation Updates: Cluster Action Initiative
submitted by Bria Lewis, Esq. On October 9th Governor Cuomo issued an Executive Order that established red, orange, and yellow zones as part of the Cluster Action Initiative. New York State Department of Health (DOH) followed by issuing a guidance on October 23rd, for visitation guidelines in red and orange zones. The October 23rd guidance…
Read MoreLive Presentation on Leveraging Health Insurance to Achieve Equity for LGBT People
Christopher Phillips, Esq. gave a live presentation on how LGBT adults can use health insurance programs to access the Health Care System and live healthier, happier lives. View the powerpoint presentation separately here. Questions? Income-eligible individuals age 50 years and up who self-identify as LGBTQ+ can contact Christopher Phillips at (716) 853-3087, ext. 283, to…
Read MoreOnline Legal Risk Assessment Tools Available
During this global pandemic more Western New Yorkers are struggling with issues related to safe and affordable housing, debt, health care and financial exploitation. The Center for Elder Law & Justice has two online screening tools available to connect older adults who may be facing these types of challenges with our office. The New York…
Read MorePlanning for the Unexpected: Which Documents Are Right For You?
submitted by Christopher Phillips, Esq. Planning for the future is important. Life can change in the blink of an eye, so it is important to think ahead and find ways to look after yourself and your affairs. The decision to put documents in place is a personal one. The content below provides general information regarding…
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