ADVOCACY ALERTS

The law firm of Emma Hemness will provide important LEGAL ALERTS on this page as a service to all of its clients and to the general public. Simply click on the link to read the ALERT.
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February 8, 2006: President Bush signed the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) into law on February 8, 2006. The DRA constitutes the most significant change to federal Medicaid rules in 17 years, and dramatically impacts rules governing assets, and the gifting of assets. The DRA requires that all states implement their own regulations within certain timeframes. [see actual text of DRA] Click here to read a synopsis of the 11 major changes caused by this federal legislation.

Additional information.

February 23, 2007: The Department of Children & Families (Florida's Medicaid agency) published its rules to implement the DRA in the State of Florida. Click here to read the proposed changes to Florida's existing rules. A workshop has been scheduled for March 20, 2007. The effective date of these new rules in Florida has not been determined.

April 5, 2007: Law Offices of Emma Hemness, P.A. notifies families that the Department of Children & Families MAY apply new Florida rules prospectively, signaling possible brief "window of opportunity" to seek counsel for asset protection planning under the "old rules".

May 4, 2007: The Department of Children & Families published "Notice of Change" to its proposed rule dated February 23, 2007. The Public Policy Task Force, a small group of elder law attorneys, will request a public workshop. Yet, the effective date, still unknown, for Florida's new rules draws closer.

June 15,2007: DCF Publishes New Notice of Change to Rules; Public Hearing to Follow July 2, 2007

ALERTS - click to read

- Deficit Reduction Act of 2005
- Florida Proposed Rule DTD 2/23/2007
- The D.R.A. of 2005: What Does It Say? update for April 2006. (.doc)
- Advocates for Senior Citizens Horrified By Legislation Passed Days Before Christmas - December 2005 (doc)
Notice of Change by the Department of Children and Families - June 15,2007

Watch This Space for Announcements for Times and Locations of Free Educational Workshops discussing the impact of new legislation on Medicaid qualification planning.

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309 N. Parsons Ave.  ·  Brandon, FL.  33510
PH. (813) 661-5297  ·  FX. (813) 689-8725
"3 blks. North of Hwy. 60 and Only Minutes from Tampa"

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