Michigan House is close to a new deal that wil expand Medicaid to low-income adults.

Medicaid eligibility could be expanded to 320,000 more Michigan residents next year.

There’s reason to believe that Michigan lawmakers may be closer to approving an expansion of Medicaid health insurance for low-income adults.

(Related: Health Reform and the Implications for Women’s Access to Coverage and Care)

As early as Tuesday, a new version of Republican-sponsored legislation could move from a House committee no longer includes a hard 4-year cap on benefits for certain adults. Both Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and minority Democrats have expressed concern towards the provision.

(Related: Proposed Changes to the VA Pension Program)

The revised bill would give two options to nondisabled adults earning between 100 and 133 percent of the poverty level after they’re on Medicaid for 48 months. They would be able to purchase government-subsidized health insurance through a new insurance marketplace or pay more to stay on Medicaid.

(Related: Medicaid Applicant Denied for Uncompensated Transfer of Assets)

While conversation continues over the legislation, supporters of expanding Medicaid eligibility to 320,000 more Michigan residents next year say a deal is within reach.

Read more: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/viewart/20130610/NEWS04/306100080/Michigan-House-may-pass-Medicaid-expansion-week

Christopher J. Berry is a Michigan elder law attorney Dedicated to helping seniors, veterans and their families navigate the long-term care maze. To learn more visit http://www.michiganelderlawattorney.com/ or call 248.481.4000

A durable power of attorney protects you in the event that your health declines quickly and you are unable to make health care decisions on your own.

Medical and financial Durable Powers of Attorney can’t prevent accidents or keep you young, but they can certainly make life easier for you and your family if times get tough.

While it may not be common knowledge, it is Older Americans Month and Elder Law Month, and there is no better time to talk about Elder Law and Durable Power of Attorney.

(Related: Proposed Changes to the VA Pension Program)

Elder Law is a specialized area of law that involves representing, counseling and assisting seniors, people with disabilities and their families with a number of legal issues, from estate planning to long-term care issues. Its emphasis, according to The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, is to promote the highest quality of life for individuals.

(Related: Rural Areas Could Suffer In States That Opt Against Medicaid Expansion)

Durable Power of Attorney for health care is perhaps the most difficult and important Elder Law issue that needs to be addressed as we age. A health care Power of Attorney, or health care proxy, is a legal document that defines the person who is authorized to make health care and medical decisions for another person. This is imperative in the case of older people, who often descend rapidly into poor health, rendering them unable to make health care decisions for themselves.

(Related: DOMA Increases Medicare Costs For Same-Sex Married Couples)

While there a number of subtleties involved in creating a Durable Power of Attorney, three that stand out are:

• It must be executed. This means it must be signed while a person is still mentally competent to do so.
• It must appoint a person, or people, who will be able to make decisions on the other person’s behalf if required.
• It must define a triggering event, or the action that will put the proxy in effect. This is usually defined as when a person becomes incapacitated.

You can learn more about the details of developing a health care POA here.

Read more: http://homehealthcareconnection.org/2013/05/elder-law-understanding-the-issues-and-the-importance-of-durable-power-of-attorney/?utm_source=feedly

Christopher J. Berry is an elder law lawyer in Michigan Dedicated to helping seniors, veterans and their families navigate the long-term care maze. To learn more visit http://www.michiganelderlawattorney.com/ or call 248.481.4000