Ratner & Pinchman

Our Common Fraud Schemes webpage provides tips on how you can protect you and your family from fraud. Senior Citizens especially should be aware of fraud schemes for the following reasons: Senior citizens are most likely to have a “nest egg,” to own their home, and/or to have excellent credit—all of which make them attractive to con artists. People who grew up in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s were generally raised to be polite and trusting. Con artists exploit these traits, kno

Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income persons receive health care benefits. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid provisions. Existing federal law requires the state to seek adjustment or recovery from an individual’s estate for specified medical assistance, including nursing facility services, home and community-based servic

Filed April 9, 2015, Sixth District Cite as H040646 Decedent retained attorney to draft an amendment to a revocable trust. The decedent executed the amendment, which as drafted named decedent’s children and spouse as beneficiaries. After decedent’s death, decedent’s children petitioned to modify the amendment, alleging it failed to implement the decedent’s instructions by incorrectly including decedent’s spouse as a beneficiary entitled to receive an interest in decedent’s

A woman who received some $2.6 million in gifts from L.A. real estate mogul Donald Sterling must turn them over to his wife, a judge ruled Tuesday in a rare interpretation of California family law. V. Stiviano, who often was seen in public with Sterling but denied their relationship was sexual, received lavish gifts from the former Los Angeles Clippers owner between 2011 and 2014. By Marisa Kendall — The Recorder #EstatePlanning

Many who support broader access to health care for low-income people are decrying a U.S. Supreme Court decision this week in a case involving reimbursement levels for doctors who treat the poor. But while we share the goal of broader access, we think the court was wise to rule that private parties have no standing to sue the government to force higher payments to medical providers under the federal-state Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal in California. http://www.sacbee.com

Herting v. California Dept. of Health Care Services Filed March 27, 2015, Sixth District Following the death of beneficiary of Special Needs Trust, Trustee sought to avoid reimbursement to the Department of Health Care Services for medical expenses paid on behalf of the beneficiary, citing 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(b)(1)(B) and Welfare & Institutions Code § 14009.5(b)(1), on the ground Trust assets were allegedly exempt from such reimbursement rights because the beneficiary was u

Download CANHR's: Cost of Living Adjustments http://www.canhr.org/medcal/PDFs/RateCOLA2015.pdf #MediCal

The Aged and Disabled Federal Poverty Level increase effective April 1, 2015 (ACWDL # 15-12) http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Documents/ACWDL2015/ACWDL15-12.pdf The income limit for an A&D FPL individual is $1,211 The income limit for an A&D FPL couple is $1,638 #MediCal

Average Private Pay Rate increased to $8,092 (ACWDL #15-17) http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Documents/ACWDL2015/ACWDL15-17.pdf #MediCal