One Party Rule, or How To Do As Much Damage As Possible As Quickly As Possible: Provisions buried in the new Wisconsin budget dramatically expanded the state’s ability to claim dead couples’ joint property, such as Green Bay Packers tickets or the family farm, to recoup Medicaid expenses — even if the assets are protected in trusts. The language is designed to help the state recover Medicaid money spent on a number of long-term care programs, most notably Family Care, which helps keep disabled and elderly people out of costly nursing homes. It’s unlikely the changes will take effect for months, but attorneys who specialize in elder law say they’re already creating concern among seniors who want to leave property to their children and other beneficiaries. The state has prioritized recovering every dollar spent on Medicaid over families’ well-being, said Carol Wessels, a Wauwatosa attorney and former chair of the state bar’s Elder Law Section Board of Directors.
Posted on: Sun, 18 Aug 2013 23:13:49 +0000
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