Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) is introducing a bill to change Medicare law so that elderly patients are not unfairly charged for receiving needed nursing home care after being hospitalized.

 

In a press release, Sen. Schumer said the plight of Isadore "Ike" Cassuto, an 88-year-old retired tax attorney and former WWII pilot, is typical of the cases of thousands of elderly Americans who have been unreasonably denied Medicare coverage for required care.

 

After breaking his pelvis in November, Mr. Cassuto spent four days at an Albany, N.Y., hospital before being transferred to a nursing home for three weeks of rehabilitation. Medicare covers such nursing home stays entirely for the first 20 days, but only if the patient was first admitted to a hospital as an inpatient for at least three days. It turned out that, unbeknownst to him, Mr. Cassuto had spent his four days in the hospital merely under "observation" without actually being admitted. This meant that he was entirely responsible for his subsequent $6,000 nursing home bill.

  

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In a recent decision, Gordon v. Pappalardo (BAP No. MW 12-60, March 13, 2013), the U.S. Bankruptcy Panel for the First Circuit confirmed a Bankruptcy Court decision that holders of a remainder interest in real estate in Massachusetts do not qualify for homestead protection.

 

A life estate is a common form of real estate ownership often used for estate and long-term care planning purposes. Typically, parents will execute a deed reserving a life estate and granting a remainder interest to their children. As a result, both the parents and the children own an interest in the real estate, but the parents have the full right of possession during their lives. According  to the ruling in this case, the children do not qualify for homestead protection.

  

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Join Felipe Fregni and Timothy Wagner who

will speak on the next generation treatment and

technologies for Parkinson's disease at the

Goddard House Dinner Lecture Series.  They

will explore current and emerging treatment trends, with emphasis on non-invasive brain stimulation, technologies, their proposed mechanisms, timelines of development and area trials.

  

The lecture and discussion will take place on Tuesday, April 23rd, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Goddard House located on 165 Chestnut Street in Brookline.

  

Seating is limited so reserve a spot by calling (617) 731-8500 ext.105 or e-mail lchapman@goddardhouse.org.