MPLP Newsletter - Summer 2004

* The Office of Services for the Aging (OSA) Annual Training on August 26-27 in Lansing;
* Elder Law Day at the MPLP Road Show on September 23 at MSU's Kellogg Center in East Lansing;
* The Elder Law and Advocacy Section Annual Training at Treetops Resort on October 7-9;
* The National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform Annual Meeting on October 17-20 in Arlington, Virginia; and
* The National Aging and Law Conference in Arlington, Virginia on October 20-23.

CMS Issues Clarification: Receipt of the $600 Medicare Drug Discount Card Will Not Affect Medicare Beneficiaries' Eligibility for Medicaid, Food Stamps, or Other Federal Benefit Programs On July 19, 2004, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) made efforts to clarify that low income Medicare beneficiaries' receipt of the $600 "Transitional Assistance" drug credit in 2004 and 2005 would not affect their eligibility for other federal benefits programs like Medicaid spenddown, food stamps, or housing assistance.

Department of Community Health Issues Final Home Help Policy
and Institutes Caps on Services with No Exceptions After months of negotiations with advocates and after agreeing to rescind some of the most troubling proposed changes in the program, the Department has issued its final Home Help policy.

Medicaid Long Term Care Task Force Named and Initial Meetings Held On June 1, 2004, the Governor announced the 21 members of the new Medicaid Long Term Care Task Force. Under the terms of the settlement agreement in the Eager v. Engler lawsuit, the Task Force is required to have seven consumer members or advocates, seven providers, and seven state officials or legislators.

ICLE Publishes Updated Edition of Advising the Older or Disabled Client

GAO Report Identifies Numerous Problems with Internet Pharmacies A June, 2004 report by the General Accounting Office revealed various, significant problems with internet pharmacies, particularly those located outside of the United States and Canada.

Michigan Campaign for Quality Care Launches Web Site The Michigan Campaign for Quality Care, a statewide, nonpartisan, grassroots group of consumers seeking better care, better quality of life, and better choices for Michigan's long term care consumers has launched a new web site...

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C O N S U M E R .L A W - Articles by Lorray S.C. Brown, MPLP ConsumerAttorney

Upcoming Conference:

The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) will hold its 13th Annual Consumer Rights Litigation Conference from November 5 - 8, 2004 in Boston, Massachusetts at the Boston Seaport Hotel. In addition to the main conference, there will be several mini conferences:

1) Wrapping Up Predatory Mortgages Cases: Settlement and Trial Issues
2) Easing the Debt Struggle: Practical Strategies to Help Clients Drowning in Debt
3) Basic Consumer Bankruptcy

For more information, visit the nclc website: www.nclc.org

Upcoming Consumer Law Day at the MPLP Roadshow -
Monday, September 20, 2004
Don't Forget!

Governor Signs MICA Legislation! By Stephanie Johnson-Wuttke, Capitol Services, Inc. At a June 18^th bill signing ceremony at the Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development (LASED) Senior Center in southwest Detroit, Governor Granholm signed the Michigan Immigration Clerical Assistant (MICA) Act. The MICA Act, HB 4983 and HB 4984, sponsored by Representatives Steve Tobocman (D-Detroit) and Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) were designed to improve immigration services and better protect immigrants from being scammed by people posing as "immigration consultants" claiming to offer immigration services such as obtaining a work permit or visa.

Financial and Insurance Services Commissioner Proposes Rules to Reduce Insurance Base Rates and to Ban the Use of Credit Scoring The Office of Financial and Insurance Services (OFIS) Commissioner has taken steps toward protecting the interests of this state's consumers, especially low-income working families. OFIS Commissioner, Linda Watters, has proposed rules to ban the use of credit scoring in determining insurance rates.

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F A M I L Y L A W - Articles by Rebecca Shiemke , MPLP Family Law Attorney

MPLP Welcoms Rebecca Shiemke

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H O U S I N G L A W - Articles by Jim Schaafsma, MPLP Housing Attorney

A Look at the New Markets Tax Credit Program by Matt George, MPLP Summer Law Clerk The New Markets Tax Credit Program (NMTC), passed by Congress in 2000, "is designed to stimulate investments in commercial real estate and business ventures located in low-income urban and rural areas"(p.2, Briefing Paper). The NMTC Program is considered the best chance to close financing gaps on difficult or stalled projects, and is a way for cities to promote economic development.

Legislative Update: New Law Creates Recordable Judgment Lien Procedure;New Law Says Assignment Only Need be Recorded Before Foreclosure Starts

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P U B L I C B E N E F I T S .- Articles by Lisa Ruby, MPLP Public Benefits Attorney

Case May Provide Legal Precendent to Combat Loss of SSI Benefits for "Fugative Felons" by Michael Murphy, MPLP Summer Law Clerk For thousands of blind, aged, or disabled persons nationwide, ignorance of an outstanding warrant from their past can result in a loss of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or social security benefits. Recent District Court decisions from Northern Michigan and California, however, may have created a precedent to counter a problematic ambiguity of recent social security and SSI laws for "fugitive felons."

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T E C H N O L O G Y - Articles by Scott Trudeau, MPLP Technology Manager

Pika Update:More Installations, Improved Stability With his usual flar, Scott talks about what's new with Pika, and how to make the best use of its features.

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