On August 1, 2016, Ohio changed its Medicaid regulations regarding the treatment of the home. Federal and State Medicaid laws recognize that the family home is often times the largest asset of an individual, and Medicaid rules account for the reality that the family home is critical to the well-being of a spouse, a child, […]
Keep reading ...Articles
Good News for Families: Ohio Department of Medicaid Freezing Level of Care Waiver Disenrollments for Six Months
The Ohio Department of Medicaid has announced that, for six months, it will freeze disenrollments from three Ohio Medicaid Waiver programs regarding people it alleges no longer meet the “level of care” required to participate in the program. Why is this important? In Ohio, Medicaid Waiver programs allow people with serious care needs to receive […]
Keep reading ...Caring for Caregivers
Many of my clients are caregivers. They are often caregiving for their children with disabilities or for their elderly parents. Others are more distant relatives who have taken it upon themselves to care for their loved one. Although their situations vary greatly, I see many recurring themes. I see strength, compassion, and selflessness on a […]
Keep reading ...Can I Trust That Life or Death Decision?
For years, I have been helping people complete durable powers of attorney for healthcare, living wills, and do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders. Collectively, these documents are called “advance directives.” They give directions about the care desired in advance of the need for that care. Advance directives allow you to select whether or not you want your healthcare […]
Keep reading ...New Guardianship Rules: What About Those Plans?
The Supreme Court adopted extensive amendments to the Guardianship Rules, which were effective June 1, 2015. Among these amendments is the requirement for all guardians to file an “Annual Plan” with the Probate Court. This new requirement has raised a number of questions: What should be in these Annual Plans? How is the Annual Plan […]
Keep reading ...The ABLE Act: Current Developments
You have probably heard of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, enacted in December 2014. In the past year alone, plenty of developments have taken place to ensure successful implementation of the Act in Ohio. In writing this article, I want to explain just how extraordinary the ABLE Act is to people with […]
Keep reading ...What is Due Process?
In the world of special education, DUE PROCESS is like a mini trial. One party “files due process” against the other, and then there is a hearing with witnesses and evidence presented. An Independent Hearing Officer (IHO) is appointed by the Ohio Department of Education to hear the case and decide who wins and what […]
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