Press Briefing Emphasizes Finding Seniors Who Were Refused Benefits

NSCLC and other public interest attorneys held a press briefing today in San Francisco to spotlight the need to find the many people in the Bay area and nationally who have been wrongfully refused Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.  Two California seniors who had been refused benefits shared their stories at the briefing. Thousands of vulnerable older adults and people with disabilities—disproportionately from ethnic groups--are now eligible again for both Social Security and SSI benefits. Many will receive past benefits from $10,000-$40,000—due to a successful NSCLC-led class action lawsuit (Martinez vs. Astrue) against the Social Security Administration (SSA). The event was held at New America Media (NAM) offices in San Francisco. Read More

Press Release l Participants l Bay Area Referral List l Consumer Handout

NSCLC Chair Recognized By Nurses Association

Claire Fagin, who chairs the National Senior Citizens Law Center Board of Directors, has been inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame. Induction into the Hall of Fame recognizes a nurse’s lifelong commitment to the profession and impact on the health and/or social history of the nation and represents the pinnacle of achievement in the nursing profession. Ms. Fagin is a professor and dean emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing and is a former president of the university.

"Look for Kagan Health Reform Fight"

In Politico for June 29, Si Lazarus published this article under the title, “Look for Health Reform Fight in Kagan Hearing.” The piece shows why the arguments on which health reform opponents rely in court will, if accepted, threaten to sweep away the constitutional precedents on which the New Deal, Great Society, and kindred landmark programs have been upheld – civil rights, environmental, retirement security, consumer and worker protection safeguards we all take for granted.  As Si anticipated, in the hearing, Senate Judiciary Republicans frequently targeted the health reform law.  More generally, key Republicans abandoned their traditional reverence for “judicial restraint,” instead openly embracing conservative judicial activism to upend progressive reform laws. 

NSCLC Files Amicus Brief in Support of Health Reform

On June 17, 2010, attorneys from the Center for American Progress, the Federal Rights Project of the National Senior Citizens Law Center, and PCT Law Group, PLLC, filed an Amicus Brief in support of the federal government’s Motion to Dismiss in the matter of Commonwealth of Virginia, Ex Rel. Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II v. Sebelius.

This case, currently before the U.S. District Court of Eastern Virginia, involves the State of Virginia’s challenge to the recently enacted health reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  The Amicus Brief, which argues in favor of the new health care law, specifically addresses why the minimum coverage provisions of the law are indispensable to the long-sought prohibition on the exclusion of persons with preexisting conditions from health insurance plans.

Read More l Amicus Brief 

NSCLC Advocate Guide: Understanding the Martinez Settlement

To assist advocates who are working with Martinez class members, NSCLC (co-lead counsel in the case) has created the advocate guide, "Understanding the Martinez Settlement." The guide provides background on the SSA policy and the litigation, summarizes the benefits of the settlement and relays practice tips to advocates.

General Public and Affected Individuals: Click here for Martinez handouts and information.

Materials for Advocates:  Martinez Settlement Website

High Court Asks Solicitor General's Opinion in Medi-Cal Case

(California Healthline) The U.S. Supreme Court  invited the Solicitor General to weigh in on a case that could determine whether California can legally reduce payments to Medi-Cal providers. In February, California asked the Supreme Court to review two federal court rulings that found the state violated federal Medicaid law when it cut Medi-Cal reimbursements by 10% in 2008. The federal government and states share responsibility for administering Medicaid, and the crux of the case is whether federal law trumps state jurisdiction over Medicaid.

NSCLC attorney Rochelle Bobroff said, "Businesses go into court all the time and say, ‘You can't make us abide by state law because federal law pre-empts state law [...] if the court were to shut the door on Medicaid recipients when the door is wide open to businesses, that would be very significant".

Read the article.   

WEBINAR: Health Care Reform & Low Income Older Adults

This webinar presented an overview of how the PPACA will affect older individuals, with a focus on the Medicaid long-term services and supports provisions, the provisions relating to long-term care facilities, and the changes that will have a particular impact on dual eligibles, such as certain changes to Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage.

The presenters were Eric Carlson, Gene Coffey, and Georgia Burke, all of whom are attorneys with the National Senior Citizens Law Center.

Click here for written materials l Download PowerPoint