| MPLP eNewsletter | Issue 10 Winter 2001 |
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MPLP Index |
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New Medicaid Policy Pays for Limited Hospital and Therapeutic Leave Days The Department of Consumer Health’s Medical Services Administration recently issued a new policy concerning payment for bed holds to allow some Medicaid nursing home residents to return to their own beds after a temporary absence from the facility for a hospitalization or therapeutic leave, thus reducing the transfer trauma a returning resident might otherwise suffer. by Alison Hirschel, Michigan Poverty Law Program Bush Delays Implementation of HCFA Final Rule Permitting States to Expand Medicaid Eligibility President Bush issued a regulatory review memorandum delaying for 60 days the effective date of all of President Clinton's regulatory actions, including a final regulation issued by HCFA that allowed states to apply more liberal methodologies to compute the Medicaid spenddown for an individual with income slightly above the traditional income limits who has significant medical bills. by Alison Hirschel, Michigan Poverty Law Program New Law May Encourage Increased Use of Potentially Hazardous Bed Side Rails in Nursing Homes, and Permits Some Residents of Homes for the Aged Greater Opportunity to Age in Place Enrolled House Bill No. 5689, signed by the Governor on January 9, 2001, requires nursing homes to offer existing residents and new residents upon admission the option of using bed side rails. The new law also addresses an eclectic array of other long-term care issues. by Alison Hirschel, Michigan Poverty Law Program Governor Signs Guardianship Reform Bills On January 10, 2001, Governor Engler signed a seven bill Senate guardianship package that provides additional oversight to the guardianship and conservatorship process, and seeks to reduce the number of unnecessary guardianships and conservatorships. In addition, the legislation attempts to ensure that when guardians and conservators are appointed, their powers are limited to the demonstrated needs of the individual. The new legislation will become effective June 1, 2001. by Alison Hirschel, Michigan Poverty Law Program |
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Family Law Update and Farewell Major amendments to Senate Bill 1244, on relocation, and House Bills 4552 and 4615 on arbitration. by Delphia Simpson, Michigan Poverty Law Program |
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Encouraging Reports about the HUD Secretary Mel Martinez, the probable new Secretary of HUD, has pledged to strengthen the agency, and housing and anti-poverty advocates report that Martinez has previously taken action to solve serious problems in low-income neighborhoods. by Jim Schaafsma, Michigan Poverty Law Program Participate in Two Housing Surveys The National Housing Law Project and the Center for Community Change have recently issued surveys on two issues of concern to low income housing: public housing earned income disregards and predatory mortgage lending. by Jim Schaafsma, Michigan Poverty Law Program Statewide Case Reports Legal Aid of Western Michigan-Grand Rapids files complaints against the owner of the Buchanon Mobile Home Park on behalf of six families after city inspectors condemned the park. Legal Services of Southern Michigan-Monroe obtains a jury verdict awarding a tenant more than $4,000 in lockout damages and a rent abatement of $3,200. by Jim Schaafsma, Michigan Poverty Law Program Another Property Tax Foreclosure First Approaches Under Michigan’s new property tax foreclosure process, property for which 1999 taxes are delinquent forfeits to the county treasurer on March 1, 2001, and a $175 fee and additional interest of 6% retroactive to March 1, 2000, is added to the delinquency. by Jim Schaafsma, Michigan Poverty Law Program |
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WELFARE LAW Case Developments: Fry v. Saenz; Rodriguez v. Steger. News Brief: Energy assistance update. Social Security: Social Security Ruling 00-4p clarifies the agency's policy on use of vocational expert testimony. by Lisa Ruby, Michigan Poverty Law Program |
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MLAN.net News The Michigan Legal Assistance Network has been moved to a new firm, HostPro. The new system sports an improved mailing list package and should be much more dependable. by Aaron Worley, Michigan Poverty Law Program Technology Update - 4th Quarter
2000 by Trent Cahill, Access to Justice |
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