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15th Annual Elder Law Forum
Aging and Disability: Practical Solutions for Real People
When: Thursday, May 6, 2010 | 8:00am - 12:30pm
Where: New YorkState Nurses Association, 11 Cornell Road, Latham, NY 12110
Registration: btromans@pierrolaw.com or 518-459-2100
OVERVIEW:
With the passage of health care reform, and ongoing budget deficits at the federal, state and local levels, the government financing of long-term care is at a crossroads. The Class Act is part of federal reform, but will it have any real impact? New York State is trying to cap the growth in home care services, to promote its waiver programs, and to cut the budget by expanding estate recovery provisions under Medicaid. Our frail elderly and disabled New Yorkers living at home, and their families, struggle to make sense out of a fragmented system, which seems to make care difficult to find and impossible to pay for. Many do not know what options are available locally, or where to turn for advice. Some end up in nursing homes far too soon.
The 15th Annual Forum will feature topics including: Updates on Medicaid & Medicare; VA Benefits; Coordinating the Spectrum of Long-Term Care; Local Options; the Future of Long-Term Care in New York; Expanding Private Insurance Options; and a look how national health care reform may impact seniors and people with disabilities. Albany County Executive Mike Breslin will deliver this year’s key note address followed by a panel discussion, debating home care vs. nursing home care and alternative solutions. Each year the Elder Law Forum attracts the area’s leading professionals from the senior care, financial, legal, insurance, advocacy and government sectors, who actively participate in the open dialog.
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2010 Key Note Speaker:
Michael G. Breslin
Albany County Executive
Michael G. Breslin has lived in Albany County all his life and his leadership skills became apparent at a young age. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mr. Breslin was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. After completing Airborne and Ranger schools, he served three years in the 82nd Airborne Division, where he was platoon leader and infantry company commander. He later served a year in Vietnam where he was an infantry company commander in the 4th Infantry Division. He was honorably discharged in 1969 as a Major. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantry Badge. Mr. Breslin went on to Law School and was an attorney in private practice for more than 20 years. He was elected as Albany County Executive in 1995.
Mr. Breslin's community service includes more than 20 years on the board of Hospitality House, 13 years as attorney to Saint Anne Institute, 7 years on the board of LaSalle School for Boys and more than 10 years of coaching community youth baseball and softball teams. He continuously strives to find better ways to serve the people of Albany County. He firmly believes that county government’s role is to help people and make Albany County a better place to live. He has an unfaltering dedication and commitment to doing so.
Key Note Panel Discussion: Home Care vs. Nursing Home Care - Local Options
Panelists Include:
-Mike Breslin, Albany County
-Karen Hoogkamp, Avila Retirement Community
-Edward Neary, Colonie Senior Services
-Laurie Pferr, NYS Office of Aging
-Mark Kissinger, NYS Dept. of Health
-Kimberly Strauchon Verner, Esq., Pierro Law Group/ Disability Advocate
Moderated by Louis W. Pierro, Esq.
2010 Speakers Include:
Mark Kissinger
Deputy Commissioner, NYS DOH Office of Long Term Care
Mark Kissinger is Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Long Term Care at the New York State Department of Health. Mr. Kissinger brings a multifaceted wealth of experience and expertise to his position, including serving as the President of the Home Care Association of New York State, the Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services with the New York State Governor’s Office, Senior Program Associate with the New York State Governor’s Office, Senior Program Associate with the New York State Senate Majority Leader’s Office, Director of the New York State Senate Social Services Committee and the Director of the New York State Senate Committee on Aging.
Gail Holubinka
Former Director of the NYS Partnership
Ms. Holubinka's knowledge of long-term care financing is the result of over 25 years of experience that includes both the public and private sectors. Most recently she was Vice President of Legislative Affairs for MedAmerica Insurance Company and was the original developer and Director of the New York State Partnership for Long Term Care. Ms Holubinka has had the unique experience of creating viable long-term care funding systems for Medicaid, private insurers, and what’s between, the NYS Partnership. In 2007, Ms. Holubinka was named one of the 10 most influential people in the nation in long-term care insurance by Senior Advisor magazine.
Robert M. Vandy, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, CLTC
Vice President, New York Long-Term Care Brokers
Robert Vandy is Vice President of Marketing for New York & National Long Term Care Brokers (NYLTCB), a nationally recognized long-term care, retirement, estate and business planning firm located in Clifton Park, NY. Mr. Vandy has over 19 years of experience in insurance & financial services, having served in both field and home office marketing support & management capacities. Prior to joining NYLTCB in his current capacity supporting the NYLTCB network of producers and developing new producers & strategic partnerships, Mr. Vandy spent 4 years as an advisor/producer and 9 years in home & regional office environments for two insurance carriers, serving in marketing & sales support, training and management capacities with geographic responsibility for the northeastern U.S.. He is a member and Past President of the Eastern New York Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals (SFSP), a member and past director of the Capital District (NY) affiliate of the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA), and is a member of the American Association of Long Term Care Insurance (AALTCI) and the Estate Planning Council of Eastern New York.
Paul Menge MD
Medical Director, Senior Whole Health New York
Dr. Paul Menge has more than two decades of experience working with the Capital Region’s geriatric population. In his current role as the Albany resident for Senior Whole Health New York he is responsible for conducting reviews of clinical cases and overseeing benefit determinations. He also participates in outreach and educational activities for the medical provider community in the plan’s New York coverage area, which includes Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Montgomery, Orange, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Ulster, Warren, and Washington counties.
Board certified in family medicine and geriatrics, Dr. Menge currently serves as a staff physician and practice partner for Community Care Physicians’ Partners in Family Medicine Division and is also employed by Community Hospice of Rensselaer County, where he is medical director for the facility’s nursing home unit. He began his career as a physician with Capital District Community Health Plan at its Troy Health Center.
A graduate of the State University College of Forestry in Syracuse, Dr. Menge earned his doctor of medicine degree from the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. He completed his residency at Pawtucket Hospital of Brown University in Providence Rhode Island.
Laurie Pferr
Executive Deputy Director, New York State Office of Aging
Laurie Pferr is the Executive Deputy Director of the NYS Office for the Aging. Ms. Pferr assists the Director of the Agency on policy and program issues and is responsible for oversight of day to day operations of the agency. She is committed to carrying out the mission of NYSOFA to help older New Yorkers and their families. Ms. Pferr came to NYSOFA in 2003 after almost twenty years of experience working in the New York State Senate at which time she became knowledgeable in many policy areas, including aging, health, education, insurance and social services. She has a B.A. in political studies from Adelphi University and a Masters in Public Administration from Rockefeller College at the State University of New York at Albany.
Kimberly Strauchon Verner, Esq.
Elder & Disability Law Attorney, Pierro Law Group, LLC
Kimberly Strauchon Verner is an attorney who focuses her practice in the areas of Elder Law, Medicaid and Long-Term Care Planning, Special Needs Planning for persons with disabilities and their families and guardianships. Currently, Ms. Verner is serving her fourth term as President of the Board of Directors of the Capital District Center for Independence and was a member of the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Task Force on Supplemental Needs Trusts and housing issues. She is also a member of the Elder Law Section and Lawyer Assistance Programs of the New York State Bar Association. Ms. Verner’s previous work experience includes coordinating grant-funded, innovative independent living programs for persons with developmental disabilities at the Center for the Disabled. Prior to graduating from Vermont Law School, Ms. Verner clerked with the South Royalton Legal Clinic where she focused on disability law issues. She also clerked with the Office of Counsel for the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Given Ms. Verner's background and advocacy, she frequently educates professionals and the public on the topics of Guardianship and Disability Law, Estate Planning, Elder Law, Medicaid and Medicare.
Louis W. Pierro, Esq.
Founder & Managing Partner, Pierro Law Group, LLC
Lou Pierro is the managing member of the Pierro Law Group. As an elder law practitioner, Mr. Pierro has counseled thousands of clients through the intricate maze of access to and financing of long term care. He has served as Chair of the New York State Bar Association Elder Law Section, a member of the Governor’s Task Force on long term care reform in 1996, and currently Chairs the Elder Law Section's Long-Term Care Reform Task Force, which has worked with the Legislature on the Compact for Long-Term Care.
2010 Sponsors:
We would like to thank our sponsors who help keep this program Free of Charge.
PLATINUM SPONSOR:
New York Long-Term Care Brokers
GOLD SPONSORS:
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