C
O N S U M E R .
L
A W - Articles by Lorray
S.C. Brown, MPLP Consumer Law Attorney
A
N N O U N C E M E N T S
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CORT
Consumer Law Training |
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May 5-7, 2004 |
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Wyndham Hotel, Cleveland |
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(A tentative agenda
will be posted on the MPLP website (www.mplp.org)
in March) |
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NACA
2004 FCRA Conference |
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May 14-16,
2004 |
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Chicago
Hilton and Towers, Chicago |
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For more
information, go to: http://naca.net/events.htm |
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Consumer
Law Taskforce Meeting |
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March 18,
2004 |
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State
Bar Building, Room 4, Lansing |
Credit
Counseling: A Panacea or Just Another Consumer Scam?
Excessive debts and difficulties
making required monthly payments are causing more and more consumers to
turn to debt counselors or credit counselors. This demand has given the
credit counseling industry an opportunity to exploit these vulnerable
consumers. Consumer advocates must understand credit counseling industry
practices to recognize unfair and deceptive practices. This article will:
(1) give an overview of the credit counseling industry practices and the
responses to those practices; (2) describe a typical credit counseling
agency scenario; and (3) set out some of the statutes that a credit counseling
agency might have violated.
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E L D E R L A W -
Articles by Alison
Hirschel, MPLP Elder Law Attorney
A
N N O U N C E M E N T S
Mark
Your Calendars for Excellent 2004 Elder Law Training Opportunities
March
19 – State Bar of Michigan Elder
Law and Advocacy Section Spring Training, Troy. Stay tuned for program
details and exact location.
September
23 – Elder Law Day at the MPLP Road Show, East Lansing.
October
7-9 – State Bar of Michigan Elder Law and Advocacy Section Annual
Conference (focus on Long Term Care), Treetops Resort, Gaylord.
October
17-20, National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform Annual
Conference, Arlington, Virginia.
October
20-23, 5th Annual National Aging and Law Conference, Arlington, Virginia.
Sarah
Slocum Named State Long Term Care Ombudsman
One of Slocum's goals is to create more opportunities
for legal representation of residents of long term care and to strengthen
legal support for local ombudsman staff. She hopes to help create more
collaborative and cooperative relationships between local legal services
and ombudsman offices.
State
Considers Permitting Nursing Homes To Hire Feeding Assistants
For the first time since the federal Nursing Home Reform Law was enacted
in 1987, federal rules allow paid workers with less than 75 hours of training
to feed residents who cannot eat on their own. States have the option
of deciding whether to allow facilities in their state to train and use
feeding assistants. Last fall, the Michigan Department of Consumer and
Industry Services began drafting a proposal to permit Michigan facilities
to hire feeding assistants.
Governor
To Create Two Task Forces Concerning the Elderly
As a result of the Eager lawsuit, the Governor
will create a Medicaid Long Term Care Task Force comprised of seven consumers
or advocates, seven providers and seven state officials or legislators.
This Task Force will examine a number of issues, including barriers to
the creation of additional home and community based long term care options,
and it will make recommendations to the Governor and the legislature regarding
needed reforms.
Judge
To Sign Eager Settlement Order
On December 15, 2003, plaintiffs and defendants in the Eager
Home and Community Based Services Waiver lawsuit submitted a detailed
settlement agreement to the court. However, one major provision of the
settlement is dependent on approval by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid
Services of the conversion of the personal care supplement for residents
of licensed assisted living facilities to a Medicaid benefit, which would
permit the state to draw down millions of federal Medicaid dollars.
Several
Web Sites Provide Detailed Information on New Medicare Prescription Drug
Provisions
The Medicare Act of 2003 includes substantial changes to the Medicare
program and offers beneficiaries some, though not comprehensive, coverage
for prescription drugs. Several excellent web sites help consumers and
advocates understand this complex new law.
Medicaid
Estate Recovery and Home Help Updates
The Administration continues to consider instituting a Medicaid estate
recovery program or some alternative to raise revenues for the state;
the Michigan Department of Community Health has worked with advocates
to reduce some of the harm caused by reductions in funding to the Home
Help program.
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