Wednesday, September 20th at 11:00 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. ET

Dual eligible individuals, those with both Medicare and Medicaid coverage, represent the most medically needy and costly population for both Medicare and Medicaid. In an effort improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare spending, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has been testing financial alignment demonstrations in thirteen states to better coordinate and integrate care for dual eligibles.

What has been learned from these demonstrations so far? What are the take-aways for states that did not participate? This webinar will provide an update on these dual eligible demonstrations and review early evaluations of the programs.

The webinar will also cover other recent efforts by CMS to address issues unique to dual eligible including issues around access to durable medical equipment.

Following the training, the audience will have a better understanding of the two models being tested in the demonstration, the fully capitated model and the managed fee-for-service model. They will also know about challenges and innovations during the almost four years since the demonstrations were launched and what further evaluation is being planned.

This is an advanced webinar. Legal service attorneys and aging and disability network professionals who work with dual eligibles are encouraged to attend.

Presenters:
Georgia Burke, Directing Attorney, Justice in Aging
Amber Christ, Senior Staff Attorney, Justice in Aging

When: Tuesday, September 12th, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. ET.

Understanding Medicaid is a key to understanding the health and long-term care delivery system for older adults. Every year, over 6 million older Americans rely on Medicaid every year to pay for necessary health services. Over two-thirds of all older adults who receive long-term care at home or in a nursing facility, participate in the Medicaid program.

This free webinar, Legal Basics: Medicaid 101, will provide participants with a basic primer on the Medicaid program. It will explain the formation of Medicaid, Medicaid funding, key Medicaid protections, and Medicaid’s role in paying for health and long-term care for older adults.

Presenters:
Eric Carlson, Justice in Aging
Amber Christ, Justice in Aging

When: Wednesday, August 16th, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. ET

Why do many clients receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits only receive $490 each month instead of $735, and what can we do about it?  In many cases, the reason is “in-kind support and maintenance” (ISM). A person who receives shelter and food from a friend or family member they live with is receiving in-kind support and maintenance. The Social Security Administration (SSA) counts that support as income and lowers their benefit.

The ISM rule is unique to the SSI program, and causes a lot of confusion for recipients, advocates, and SSA. This free webinar, In-Kind Support and Maintenance, will explore the ins and outs of ISM, provide examples of how the rule works, and offer strategies for dealing with the rule.

As SSI is a means-tested program, applicants and recipients must meet several financial eligibility criteria on an ongoing basis. The income and resources rules, including “in-kind support and maintenance,” are particularly complicated. These rules can cause significant hardship for low-income people trying to survive on SSI. Giving advocates the tools to successfully navigate the rules on behalf of their clients can make a big difference. The recipient in the example above could have an additional $245 per month for necessities like health care expenses, household expenses, transportation, and other basic needs.

Presenters:
Kate Lang, Senior Staff Attorney, Justice in Aging
John Whitelaw, Supervising Attorney, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

When: Tuesday, August 8th, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. ET

An increasing number of older consumers are struggling with unmanageable debt. Debt collectors are using aggressive tactics to pursue older adults with limited resources, making it critically important for legal services attorneys to understand protections that may help their clients. Bankruptcy may help older consumers eliminate debt and preserve income needed to pay rent, buy food, and keep the lights on.

This free webinar, Bankruptcy Protections for Older Consumers, outlines the issues facing older consumers and offers strategies to address the challenges. This session will highlight the various protections available and alternatives to filing for bankruptcy.

Presenters:
Jeremiah Battle, Attorney, National Consumer Law Center
John Rao, Attorney, National Consumer Law Center

When: Monday, July 31st, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. ET.

The Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) supports crime victims programs that assist victims of sexual assault, spousal abuse, child abuse, or other previously underserved victims of crimes. In recent years, VOCA has supported elder abuse programs, including certain specified legal assistance expenses that help crime victims.

Legal aid programs play a crucial role in accessing justice for elder abuse victims. In this webinar, Elder Abuse-Insight into Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) and Legal Aid Support , Steve Derene, Executive Director of the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators (NAVAA) ,

...will explain VOCA and its potential for supporting elder justice initiatives in legal services programs. Kathy Buckley, Manager of the Victim’s Services Program at the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will provide insight into the programs the Commission supports through VOCA.

The webinar will emphasize key details legal aid programs should understand when applying for VOCA funding to support elder justice work.

Presenters:
Steve Derene, Executive Director, National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators
Kathy Buckley, Manager, Victim’s Services Program, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency