Tag Archives: Judd Matsunaga

URGENT: Medi-Cal Power of Attorney Required

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If you or your spouse need nursing care then you absolutely need a Medi-Cal Power of Attorney.  The Medi-Cal Power of Attorney grants the power to make financial decisions which are key to Medi-Cal Planning, Asset Protection and Estate  Preservation strategies.  Judd Matsunaga, an attorney whose law practice at Elder Law Services of California emphasizes estate preservation, asset protection and Medi-Cal Planning, advises the firm’s clients to be sure they have this important legal document drafted by an attorney before they actually need it.

Medi-Cal Planning Attorney Judd Matsunaga and Asset Protection

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One of the most common questions posed to Medi-Cal Planning Attorney Judd Matsunaga is, “What can we do to protect our family assets and still qualify for Medi-Cal?”

Under Medi-Cal rules, the spouse who needs care is allowed to keep only $2,000.  In compliance with these rules, Medi-Cal plans commonly involve the transfer of assets out of community or joint tenancy accounts and into separate accounts in the name of the spouse who is well.  Any additional resources in excess of $2,000 for an individual, or $109,560 for a married couple,  may be spent down by purchasing exempt or unavailable assets.

The family home can be transferred to anyone, not just a spouse, as long as it is an exempt asset at the time of transfer.  This transfer requires a step-transaction to avoid having the new owners pay unnecessary taxes along and capital gains. The step-transaction documentation should be handled by a qualified Medi-Cal Planning attorney like Judd Matsunaga of Elder Law Services of California.  Additionally, Elder Law Services can assist in the transfer of income (i.e. pension or retirement benefits) to the  spouse who is well.

Anthem Blue Cross Offers Hospitalist Services to Medi-Cal Members

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Thanks to a new program with ApolloMed, a medical management services company, Anthem Blue Cross begins offering hospitalist services to its Medi-Cal members in Los Angeles County, California this month.

Anthem plans to leverage ApolloMed’s existing presence in 24 acute care hospitals in the area and to reduce costs by more efficiently managing members’ in-hospital care. The program serves adult Medi-Cal members only. This includes members who are enrolled in California’s Seniors and People With Disabilities (SPD) program, if they have selected Anthem after the shift to managed care this month.

Anthem’s state sponsored business president, Kevin Hayden, said that the agreement with ApolloMed is designed to enhance the quality of care that members receive during hospitalization, which would help improve outcomes.

Anthem members who participate in the program will see a physician several times each day during their hospital stays, which will help docs keep a close eye on their patients’ progress, as well as planning more timely discharges. Transition plans will include outpatient follow-up care as well as support services in an effort to prevent unnecessary readmission.

Hayden said that hospitalization can be upsetting for Anthem members, and that the insurer created the program to be sure that Anthem members have access to comprehensive healthcare and feel confident they will have a successful discharge and recovery period.

President and chairman of Apollo Medical Holdings, Adrian Vazquez, MD, said that ApolloMed’s objective is to “manage members hospitalizations and collaboratively plan for an effective transition to an outpatient setting.”

Considering the current state of healthcare reform and the consistent efforts being made to reduce hospital readmissions, the industry is likely to see the role of hospitalists expanding in the inpatient setting in coming months and years.

Research published by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that when hospitals focus on inpatient management, hospital stays can be reduced by as much as 30 percent—and the associated costs can be reduced as much as 20 percent.

The new hospitalist agreement complements existing Anthem programs that are available to Medi-Cal members, including programs like the DailyMed Pharmacy Program, 24 hour care management and Anthem’s 24 hour physician on call program.

Representatives of ApolloMed said that the medical management services company intends to add more hospitals in the region as well as additional post-discharge outpatient clinics. The idea is to make sure that members have easy access to follow-up care from until their own medical providers are ready to continue managing their care.

By Angela Atkinson

Judd Matsunaga of Elder Law Services is a qualified attorney who has helped hundreds of California residents with Medi-Cal Planning.  Mr. Matsunaga can be reached for a free consultation by calling 1-800 403-6078.

Adult Day Care Centers Worth the Cost

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The fragile elderly are caught in California’s budget squeeze.

Adult day health care allows older people whose health would send them to skilled nursing homes, to remain at home while still receiving care.

But the service is threatened by the uncertainties of the state’s budget situation.

Elderday is Santa Cruz County’s adult day health center, operated under the auspices of Salud Para La Gente, a federally qualified, Watsonville-based health care provider. Elderday serves 143 people with an average age of 76; about 85 are there daily. Statewide, 37,000 elderly people are served in ADHCs.

The programs have been part of the state’s Medi-Cal system, but Gov. Jerry Brown earlier this year wanted to end this reimbursement, and transition patients to more narrowly targeted home-based care services. While Brown wanted to provide $25 million in state funding to ease the transition for patients, advocates for seniors say there are no home-based programs that can replace the adult day centers, which not only provide health care services and physical therapy but also give patients a chance to share meals and socialize.

Salud has been getting about $76 a day for each client served by Elderday, with the state providing about half that through Medi-Cal.

Currently there are two proposals on the table that could help keep adult day care at least partially funded. Assembly Bill 96, by Van Nuys Democratic Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, would authorize the state to submit a waiver application to the federal government that would reconfigure adult day centers into similar home-based programs and would allow the state to match federal funds dollar-for-dollar to provide the funding. Blumenfield’s bill was passed earlier this month by the Assembly and has gone to the governor.

An additional proposal would provide $85 million in the budget to keep the infrastructure of adult day health care in place. Unfortunately, this amount would only be about half what the day centers received last year, but it would allow some to stay open, even if the program is restructured.

Staying open is an increasingly urgent need.

At least seven day centers have already closed in the state, or have announced they will close because of the reduced Medi-Cal payments and ongoing budget murkiness.

While cutting spending in California is a budget priority, adult day health care not only provides vital services to our frail elderly, but is cost-effective, since the daily cost is far below what it costs to keep a patient in a nursing home or hospital.

What needs to happen so that we don’t abandon seniors served by adult day centers? The governor needs to commit to the transition waiver. This will allow at least a portion of the program to continue.

And the state needs to adopt a budget so caregivers are no longer having to close down vital programs — and so families won’t have to wonder what will happen with care for their loved ones.

Judd Matsunaga of Elder Law Services is a qualified attorney who has helped hundreds of California residents with Medi-Cal Planning.  Mr. Matsunaga can be reached for a free consultation by calling 1-800 403-6078.

Avoid State Conservatorship of your Family Member’s Estate

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When a person is no longer capable of handling his or her personal and financial affairs it becomes necessary for someone else to assume those responsibilities. By preparing legally binding documents designating  a person who is to act on anothers behalf it is possible to avoid a court supervised conservatorship of the person and their estate.  Attorney Judd Matsunaga of Elder Law Services of California can assist the Trustees and  Agents with their duties to ensure that their work is performed in accordance with applicable California state laws and federal laws.

Judd Matsunaga discusses Medi-Cal Planning and Asset Preservation

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Through Medi-Cal Planning with Elder Law Services of California, a person  will be able to maintain their accustomed quality of life while preserving their assets, including the family home.
Judd Matsunaga of www.ElderLawCalifornia.com is available for a free consultation to discuss your needs and and answer questions about Medi-Cal and Asset Preservation. Call Judd at 1-800 403-6078.  California residents requiring long-term care or other expensive medical care can get help paying for their health care by qualifying for Medi-Cal.

Amendment to Irrevocable Trust by Judd Matsunaga

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“I worked with Judd Matsunaga on a probate situation and later in adding an amendment to our irrevocable trust. He did an excellent job working through the details and delivered everything I expected. He also has performed trust and estate work for some of my clients and I’m told that did a great job for them as well.”
- Abraham S.

Mr. Matsunaga was very adept and helpful in advising

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I was very concerned about how to transfer the majority of my assets without incurring capital gains taxes as well as estate taxation. Attorney Judd Matsunaga was very adept and helpful in advising me as to the best procedures to accomplish my family’s objectives which included the transfer of our primary residence into Trust. I Judd to be sincerely concerned with our needs.

G. Cusimano