Our Blog
Welcome to the blog of R. F. Meyer & Associates, where we share company news and informative articles related to our Elder Law, Probate and Estate Planning legal practice.
Medicare Expands Telehealth Services During Pandemic
As part of its response to the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government is broadly expanding coverage of Medicare telehealth services to beneficiaries and relaxing HIPAA enforcement. This will give doctors the ability to provide more services to patients...
Staying Connected When Nursing Home Visits are Banned
The spread of the coronavirus to nursing home residents has caused the federal government to direct nursing homes to restrict visitor access, and many assisted living facilities have done the same. While the move helps the residents stay healthy, it can also lead to...
Payroll Protection Program: Expect some difficulties
From the CPA Advisory Group of Columbus — We have been monitoring the ongoing saga of the Payroll Protection Program. What is clear is banks are not ready for tidal wave of applications heading their way. The bank websites I visited yesterday (April 2, 2020) are not...
Make Sure You Are Counted in the 2020 Census
The 2020 Census is starting soon, and seniors need to be counted. This may be more of a challenge this year because for the first time, the census will be completed largely online. The U.S Constitution mandates that the federal government conduct a census every 10...
Stimulus checks are coming — here’s how to make sure you get yours quickly
From NBC News — Consumers eager to receive their stimulus checks from the government's historic coronavirus aid package need to make sure they are up to date on their taxes. Once the stimulus measure is passed by the House and signed into law, distributions would come...
How Secure is Social Security?
For years people have been worried about Social Security’s future, but what is the actual outlook? According to the federal government, unless Congress acts to intervene, Social Security shortfalls are expected beginning in 2035. Social Security retirement benefits...
Safe practices, flexible arrangements to deal with Coronavirus
Dear Clients and Referral Partners, As estate planning and elder law attorneys, our practice is dedicated to serving our most vulnerable citizens, including seniors, those who are ill, disabled, experiencing mental health challenges and children with special needs. We...
Trump Admin. Allows States to Choose Medicaid Block Grants
The Trump administration has unveiled a plan to allow states the option to cap Medicaid spending using block grants. While this change does not directly affect nursing home residents on Medicaid and is billed as a way to improve state flexibility in running Medicaid...
How Does Medicaid Treat Income?
The basic Medicaid rule for nursing home residents is that they must pay all of their income, minus certain deductions, to the nursing home. The deductions include a $60-a-month personal needs allowance (this amount may be somewhat higher or lower in your state), a...