<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{mso-style-name:msonormal;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Vivenzio:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I see that you have not received any responses to your questions. I am an elder law attorney in Spokane Valley, WA.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is unclear from your question whether your client is or is not currently receiving Medicaid long term care benefits.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If she is NOT currently receiving any long term care benefits from Medicaid: A disclaimer of your client’s inheritance will be a gift of her assets to the residuary beneficiaries and thus create a period of ineligibility for Medicaid assistance
based on the value of the gifted assets. The period of ineligibility is determined at the time of her application for Medicaid benefits and applies from the time of application forward. There is a 5 year look-back on gifts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The PR cannot create a Special Needs Trust for the client because the funds are your client’s funds although they are currently undistributed from her sister’s estate. The same analysis applies for a POI going forward from the date of transfer
of the funds to the irrevocable SNT. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The spending spree only makes sense if she IS currently Medicaid eligible. She must report the receipt of the funds to DSHS within 30 days and “spend down” to less than $2,000 in total cash assets by the last day of the month in which she
receives the funds (whether or not that is 30 days from the date of receipt) to maintain Medicaid eligibility.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would suggest an analysis that takes into consideration what kind of care the client may need in the future. The amount of the bequest is important because it may allow her to meet a private pay requirement for assisted living or adult
family home care. Many facilities are requiring a private pay period by a new resident before a Medicaid application can be made.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would recommend that you refer the client to an Elder Law attorney who can do more in depth analysis and planning. Barry Myers office in Bellingham is a good referral.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jane Bitz.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Jane G Bitz<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Of Counsel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Wolff, Hislop & Crockett, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">12209 E Mission, Suite 5<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Spokane Valley WA 99206-4824<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">(509) 927-9700; FAX (509) 777-1800<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"><a href="mailto:jane@jbitzlaw.com">jbitz@whc-attorneys.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D"><img border="0" width="346" height="174" style="width:3.6041in;height:1.8125in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D52528.FF865190" alt="cid:image002.png@01D06C8A.419B0730"></span><img border="0" width="149" height="129" style="width:1.552in;height:1.3437in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image004.png@01D52528.FF903CA0"><img border="0" width="273" height="96" style="width:2.8437in;height:1.0in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image005.jpg@01D52528.FF903CA0"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#2F5496">THE CONTENTS OF THIS ELECTRONIC MAIL ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND PROTECTED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE OR OTHER APPLICABLE PROTECTION. Any review, use, distribution or disclosure by others
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this electronic mail in error, PLEASE NOTIFY ME BY E-MAIL, FAX OR TELEPHONE and PROMPTLY DELETE this electronic mail. This mail cannot be modified without express written consent of Wolff, Hislop & Crockett, PLLC.
Thank You.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Anthony Vivenzio<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, June 14, 2019 3:06 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Medicaid question<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Listmates,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We have our first estate planning issue involving Medicaid eligibility. Client is a 94 year old woman. Her sister-in-law passed away in 2018 and $50,000 to $100,000 (to be determined). While client is still relatively healthy for a 94
year old, her children are concerned that she will soon require services that will exceed her very modest resources. What do you believe might be the best method for her to remain eligible for Medicaid? Can she disclaim the inheritance in favor of her children?
Can the estate’s PR give the money directly to a special needs trust under the trusteeship of one or more of the children? Should she embark on a spending spree purchasing items qualifying as “eligible”? Your thoughts would be much appreciated.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Anthony D. Vivenzio</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Attorney and Counselor at Law<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">PO Box 208<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">540 Guard Street, Ste. 260<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Friday Harbor, WA 98250<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">(360) 378-6860<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><a href="mailto:vivenziolaw@rockisland.com">vivenziolaw@rockisland.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#7E7E7E">CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION</span></b><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#1F497D"><br>
</span></b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#7B7B7B">E-mails from this firm normally contain confidential and privileged material, are for the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain material protected by HIPAA,
ERISA or other federal or state law and/or may be protected by legal privileges. Use or distribution by an unintended recipient is prohibited, and may be a violation of law. If you believe that you received this e-mail in error, please do not read this e-mail
or any attached items. Please delete the e-mail and all attachments, including any copies thereof, and inform the sender that you have deleted the e-mail, all attachments and any copies thereof. Thank you.</span></i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#7B7B7B">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>