Our Attorneys Speak Out
Wisconsin Law Journal Quotes Christine Alsop
Christine Alsop was quoted in an article entitled "Many Lawyers Aren't Aware of New Rules." The article discussed the changes of Medicare reporting rules. Part of the article is as follows: "The reason everyone is so scared is because as soon as you touch the money, you are on the hook," said Christine Alsop, a partner at the Webster Groves, Mo. elder law firm Oelbaum, Brown & Alsop, where she works with plaintiffs' and defense attorneys as well as insurers on Medicare reporting requirement issues and set-aside trust creation. To see the full article visit: wislawjournal.com/article.cfm/2010/07/26/Medicare-setaside-rules-continue-to-baffle-Many-lawyers-arent-aware-of-new-rules.
Martha Brown is Quoted in Article About Medicaid Qualifications
Martha Brown gives advice in an article called "Medicaid Madness: Look-back period creates financial hardship for many Americans." The article appeared on the website Wallet Pop. Part of the article is as follows: "If you move into an elderly parent's home to help them with tasks such as bathing, dressing and cooking, visit their doctor as soon as possible after your move to document this need, advises Martha Brown, a partner at law firm Oelbaum, Brown & Alsop in St. Louis. To read the article visit: www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/07/29/medicaid-madness-look-back-period-creates-financial-hardship-f/.
Missouri Lawyers Weekly Quotes Christine Alsop
Christine Alsop was quoted in an article titled "A Temporary Fix: What to Know Before Hiring a Temp" in Missouri Lawyers Weekly. The article was about the importance of legal staffing firms. Part of the article is as follows: "You're seeing how things are going," says Christine A. Alsop, a partner at Oelbaum, Brown & Alsop in Webster Groves. Her firm uses temp agencies to avoid the sea of applicants a newspaper ad can produce. "They can sort through a lot of the folks who are not really qualified." To read the full article visit: findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7992/is_20100725/ai_n54650594/.
Martha Brown Speaks at Industrial Aid Seminar
Martha Brown gave a presentation about Medicaid during an Industrial Aid seminar. Industrial Aid is a not-for-profit corporation that employs adults with developmental disabilities.
Christine Alsop Discussed Estate Planning
Christine Alsop gave a presentation during an Edward Jones meeting at the Manchester Road office on July 15th. Her topic was the many aspects of Estate Planning.
Martha Brown Gave a Presentation at MO Bar CLE Session
Martha Brown discussed "Divorce & Special Needs Planning for Clients or Children with Disabilities" during the Missouri Bar's Continuing Legal Education Session on June 26th at the Holiday Inn-Earth City.
Brigid Fernandez Presents During National Association of Social Workers Conference
Brigid Fernandez gave an all day presentation during a NASW meeting. She discussed: What Happens When a Person is Legally Incapacitated, Advanced Healthcare Directives and Durable Power of Attorney.
Elder Law Updates Given by Martha Brown
Martha Brown gave an Elder Law update during a Review of the Law Seminar that was sponsored by the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
Martha Brown Talks About Special Needs Trusts
Martha Brown discussed "Special Needs Trusts: How to Write Them & How to Use Them" during the Small Firm and Solo Conference held at Tan-Tar-A in June.
Martha Brown Gives Advice in Money Magazines
Martha Brown was quoted in an article titled “Planning for the Care of a Special Needs Child” in Money Magazine. The Purnells, a St. Louis couple, have a daughter with Down Syndrome. Martha gives advice on ways to ensure Maya is taken care of and protected. Martha says: “The Purnells have made a great start by setting up wills and a trust for Maya, says St. Louis lawyer Martha Brown, part of a network of attorneys called the Special Needs Alliance. They should also write a memo, called a Letter of Intent, that details instructions for her care, from the food that she eats to the therapies that work best. "Think of it as a road map of Maya's life that will ensure she's well cared for," she says.” To see the full article visit: www.money.cnn.com.
Martha Brown Discusses the Importance of Legal Documents
Martha Brown presented "What to Do When the Lawyer Calls" at the 20th Annual Aging with Developmental Disabilities Conference. She discussed how legal documents can protect you when certain issues arise.
Christine Alsop Gives Presentation to Young Women with Metastatic Cancer
Christine Alsop discussed "Empowering Your Future with Legal Resources and Documents" at the Symposium for Young Women with Metastatic Cancer held in Clayton, MO. The event was sponsored by The Young Women's Breast Cancer Program (YWBCP), Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation and Celebrate Fitness.
Brigid Fernandez Attends Health Fair
Brigid Fernandez talked to attendees regarding various legal issues during a Health Fair held at the St. Louis Senior Center. The event was hosted by St. Louis University students.
Brigid Fernandez Gives Presentation at NASW-MO Annual Symposium
Brigid Fernandez discussed "A Multidisciplinary Approach to Aging in Place: Life Care Planning" during the Social Workers Agents of Change 2010 Show-Me Annual Symposium.
Christine Alsop Speaks at Caring for an Aging Parent Workshop
Partner, Christine Alsop discussed various solutions for dealing with legal issues that may arise when caring for an aging parent. The event was sponsored by Cornerstone Financial Group.
Brigid Fernandez Speaks at the Huntington's Disease Family Educational Conference
Board member of the Huntington's Disease Society of America, Brigid Fernandez, gave a presentation during their most recent conference called "Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008". The conference was held in Fenton, MO.
Winter Necessities Given to Nursing Home Residents
During the holiday season, Oelbaum, Brown & Alsop wrapped and delivered socks and hats to nursing home residents at Laclede Groves in Webster Groves, Delmar Gardens in Meramec Valley and Fountainbleu Nursing Center in Festus. We wanted to do something special for the residents that did not have family and would not normally receive anything during the holidays. We found out that the recipients were thrilled to have presents to open and they were so proud of their new accessories. They still show off their new hats and socks for everyone to see. Our entire staff felt the joy of giving during the holidays. We look forward to making this a yearly tradition.
Long Term Care Planning Article in Prime Life Circuit
Martha Brown wrote an article regarding Long Term Care Planning in the December 2009 issue of Prime Life Circuit. See the article on page 3 entitled "Planning for the Eventuality of Long Term Care" by visiting: www.primelifecircuit.com/files/December2009.swf.
Partners Speak at Four Missouri Bar Seminars
Martha Brown and Christine Alsop were speakers at the "SCHIP Happens and other Personal Injury Settlement Headaches" seminar in Columbia, Independence, St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri. They discussed the effects that a large settlement could have on a Medicare beneficiary and the importance of considering a set-aside.
Alicia Albus Helps Real People Needing Real Answers
Alicia Albus met with Alzheimer's family members that were struggling with legal and financial issues. Some of the topics she discussed were estate planning, guardianship, Medicaid and Social Security. The event was sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association.
Brigid Fernandez Provides Continuing Education for BJC Social Workers
Brigid Fernandez gave a presentation to BJC social workers. She introduced Life Care Planning as a way to care for the elderly. She also discussed legal planning techniques and the pitfalls of the Medicare Improvement Standard.
Planned Giving Presentation given by Micah Huff
Micah Huff discussed "Planned Giving and Endowments" on December 17th in Manchester, Missouri. This event was sponsored by the Mid East Area Agency on Aging (MEAAA).
Martha Brown Speaks About Long Term Care in Festus, Missouri
Martha Brown presented "Understanding the Legal Aspects of Long Term Care" to Nursing Home Administrators and Directors of Nursing. The event was sponsored by the Missouri Elder Care Coalition.
Christine Alsop Gives Presentation during MEAAA Meeting
Christine Alsop was asked to speak by the Mid East Area Agency on Aging (MEAAA) on the basics of estate planning, planning for incapacity and disability, fiduciary responsibility, Medicaid, Veteran's Benefits and other topics. The MEAAA invited their employees from around the State of Missouri to attend this meeting at their office in Manchester, Missouri.
Mysteries abound in Medicare set-asides
Injury cases may need separate accounts for future medical costs
Published: January 17, 2010
By Allison Retka
allison.retka@molawyersmedia.com
Avoiding risk
To Martha Brown and Christine Alsop of Oelbaum, Brown & Alsop in Webster Groves, it's not worth the risk: To ignore Medicare set-asides in injury cases is to ignore the possibility of your client losing Medicare benefits down the road.
"Today you may not get as big a settlement, but you're avoiding a risk that I wouldn't want to take," said Alsop. "The risk is future Medicare bills being denied because the attorney didn't do their work."
Alsop and Brown led education seminars in Missouri last month where they laid out their position: If you're looking at a possible settlement of at least $250,000 for a current or future Medicare beneficiary, you'd better consider a set-aside.
If an attorney passes on that option and hands the full settlement amount to the client, the funds for future medical expenses better stay intact, Brown said.
If the money isn't there, Medicare will deny benefits, and no amount of "yelling and screaming on the phone from Missouri" will change it, she said.
"It's law by bureaucracy," Brown said. "The rules are black and white. You don't follow the rules, you don't get the benefit."
Partner, Christine Alsop was recently asked her opinion regarding the future of practicing law during a difficult economical time.
Solo/Small-Firm Outlook: Cloudy with a Chance of Gain
By: Nora Tooher, Lawyers USA
Published: January 8, 2010
"A lot of lawyers who were just doing estate planning are trying to get into elder law," noted Christine Alsop, a partner in Oelbaum, Brown & Alsop, a five-lawyer elder law firm in St. Louis. "Now you have a deluge of lawyers coming into elder law, and a lot of times we question whether they know what they're doing."
The attraction to elder law is obvious, she said: It's one of the few recession-proof practice niches.
"Most elder law attorneys are doing okay," she said. "People still have to worry about where their parents or elderly aunt are going to go. Those things are never affected by the economy."
In addition, Alsop said, an increase in contested probate cases is keeping her firm busy.
"Litigation is occurring more and more readily," she said. "Children or disgruntled beneficiaries who were in a will or trust and who are now 'out' [of the will] file a lawsuit. They don't know if there was undue influence, but they're going on a fishing expedition to find out what happened and settle the case."
Reprinted with permission of Dolan Media Newswires ©2010
Martha Brown Attends the Special Needs Trust National Convention
Martha Brown attended the 2009 Special Needs Trust National Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida. The first day dealt with the basics of drafting and administering third party special needs trusts and the second day covered special needs settlement planning.
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Sponsor Special Needs Conference
Martha Brown and Christine A. Alsop participated in a two and a half day conference in Phoenix, Arizona regarding special needs. It was an in depth study of all issues concerning special needs law. Martha was a co-chair at the event and Christine was a committee member.
Christine Alsop Served as a Volunteer Judge in Mock Trial Tournament
Christine Alsop was a volunteer judge in the annual undergraduate mock trial tournament at St. Louis University. Mock trial teams from all over the country traveled to St. Louis to participate in this event. Christine observed the trails and scored the student attorneys and witnesses on their roles.
Martha Brown Discusses Guardianships and Conservatorships
Martha Brown presented "Guardianship/Conservatorship-When to Use and When Not To" on September 8th to HelpLine Volunteers. The sponsor for this event was the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Partners Speak to SLU Students
Martha Brown and Christine Alsop gave a presentation to students in an Elder Law Class at St. Louis University. Martha spoke on Supplemental Needs Trusts and Christine discussed how Oelbaum, Brown & Alsop structures their law firm. Twenty-one students were in attendance.
Brigid Fernandez Attends Veterans Affairs Lunch & Learn
Brigid Fernandez spoke to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program employees at a Lunch & Learn on October 15th. The discussion was regarding Veterans Benefits.
Christine Alsop Speaks at Maryland Heights Community Center
Christine A. Alsop was a presenter at the Maryland Heights Community Center on August 20th. She discussed "Practical Matters in Planning for Legal Disposition of Belongings After Death and Special Needs Trusts". The event sponsor was Merrill Lynch.
Martha Brown Talks to Missouri Retirees
Martha Brown presented "Plan While You Can" to Missouri State Retirees at the Powder Valley Nature Center in Kirkwood.
Estate Planning Article in Prime Life Circuit
Christine Alsop wrote an article regarding Estate Planning in the October 2009 issue of Prime Life Circuit. See the article on page 5 entitled "Estate Planning: 101" by visiting the following web address: www.primelifecircuit.com/files/October2009.swf
Martha Brown and Christine will beguest speakers as part of the the UM-KC Law Day held on June 19th and June 30th. Click here for a complete schedule of events.
See Martha's appearance on the City of Florissant's cable access program entitled "It's a Wonderful Life". Martha discusses living wills, advanced directives and other planning options for seniors with Peggy Hogan, Director of Senior Services for the City of Florissant.
On April 21, 2009, the Judevine Center for Autism will host a presentation by Martha Brown regarding estate planning for parents of children with disabilities. She will provide information with regard to guardianship options versus use of Powers of Attorneys and other documents. The presentation begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Judevine Center at 3601 Weber Rd. in St. Louis County.
Emmaus House Presentation - Emmaus House will host a presentation to be held at Lindenwood University in St. Charles on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 concerning guardianships. Martha Brown will answer questions at both sessions. She will discuss guardianships and the Probate Court process. Sessions will be held as follows: Session I: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (lunch provided) and Session II: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (dinner provided). For more information contact: Karen Schleicher at Emmaus Homes at 636-534-5216.
On May 5, 2008, Martha Brown has been asked to speak to employees of the Edward Jones Trust Company regarding How to administer a Special Needs Trust.
Partner, Christine A. Alsop has been asked to be a presenter at the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association conference in Nashville, Tennessee. She will speak on Saturday, May 16, 2009 regarding How to Try a Blumberg Case along with David L. McGuffey and Timothy Takacs. For more information regarding the conference go to www.lcplfa.org or contact Pam Carlson at admin@lcplfa.org.
Martha Brown will speak on May 19, 2009 at the AADD Annual Conference held on May 18 and 19, 2009 at the Viking Conference Center at the Holiday Inn Southwest at 10709 Watson Road, St. Louis, MO 63127. She will give a presentation regarding the importance of having Advance Directives in place, the various kinds of legal documents that serve that purpose and durable powers of attorney. For more information regarding the conference contact The Association on Aging with Developmental Disabilities at 314-647-8100.
