Why attend?

The Health Reform Act is the most significant change in federal health care policy since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid. How much will it really affect the lives of seniors and the practice of elder law? Keynote speaker Charles Sabatino answers this and other timely questions.

This year's conference covers a wide variety of elder and disability law topics with an eye toward late-breaking developments and significant changes from the past year. Our panel of expert practitioners addresses the most important recent changes in the law, including the impact of the latest state and federal legislation. This year's faculty features an all-star lineup of nationally recognized elder law experts.

The first legislative update reviews state and federal statutory changes, the Patient Affordable Care Act long term care options, the implementation of state budget cuts, the impact of the recession on planning and bills that affect planning decisions. The implementation of the Deficit Reduction Act in Massachusetts and nationally has led to an increase in Medicaid-related litigation. The second legislative update discusses the facts and implications of these cases, including those on the use of annuities, promissory notes, caregiver agreements and safe harbor strategies and more controversial planning options

The Conference explores alternatives along the spectrum of care. When parents age, they often cannot, or do not want to, continue to live in the family home. Instead of moving to another independent living arrangement, assisted living, or even a nursing home, they sometimes move to a child's home. This session discusses financial arrangements and tax impact thereof, care contracts, modifications to estate plans if warranted, and other issues that arise in implementing these arrangements in a way that maintains family harmony.

Finally, learn about new VA forms, the new policy related to disclosure of transfers of assets, and new trends related to adjudication of claims. This session focuses on non-service connected VA pension (with Aid and Attendance) benefits. It includes necessary information all VA benefits practitioners need to know.