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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…
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Nursing 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 MoreCELJ in the News
January 4, 2021: Buffalo News, “These nursing homes kept Covid-19 out for 7 months. Here’s what caregivers learned” December 23, 2020: WBFO, “‘The light at the end of the tunnel’: NY nursing homes begin receiving COVID-19 vaccine” December 4, 2020: WBFO, “Joe Biden will be the oldest-ever U.S. president. What will he do for older…
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 MoreForeclosures During COVID-19
Update on December 22, 2020: FHA extended its moratorium on new and existing foreclosures to February 28, 2021. See below for the HUD press release. FHA Extends Options for Single Family Borrowers Financially Impacted by COVID-19 | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HUD No. 20-214 HUD Public Affairs (202) 708-0685:…
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…
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