• HB 1215: Requiring DMAS to Request a Waiver from Federal Medicaid Transfer of Assets Rules (preventing transfers to spouses, disabled children, siblings, children who care for their parents, etc.; requiring transfers to be made at least six years before Medicaid applications are filed; etc.) (Shawn opposes this bill.)


This Bill was continued by the Patron to the 2005 session.  Further study and efforts may reveal better ways to address these issues.  One of the best is through lobbying efforts to support a long-term care partnership plan (see SB 266).
 

• SB 266 Medical assistance services; includes long-term care partnership plan (requires DMAS to permit customized long term care insurance policies for middle class persons, permitting them to insure their assets' value, thus reducing the Commonwealth's burden of long term care expenses for them. (Shawn supports this bill).

 
• SB 507: Prohibiting courts from making end of life decisions for incapacitated persons.  This Bill prohibits judges from withdrawal of any form of life support from a comatose patient.  The Bill would not prohibit appointment of a guardian to make such decisions. (Shawn opposes this bill.)

 
• HB 308: Preventing anyone who "has a material interest in the death of " an incapacitated person from serving as his guardian or conservator, and preventing any withdrawal of nutrition and hydration unless there is a specific statement of intent signed by the incapacitated person.  (Shawn opposed this bill.  It was defeated in subcommittee.)

 
• Summary of Bills and Resolutions of Interest   (January 21, 2004) (Requires Adobe Reader)

This is a summary of several bills addressing mental health, privacy of medical records, guardianship, Medicaid, and end of life decision making.

Copyright, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 by R. Shawn Majette.  All Rights Reserved .