The Special Assistance Network attended the Special Needs Conference in Orlando, Florida sponsored by the Hoyt & Bryan Law Firm. The conference focused on families with Special Needs and how to plan for providing and protecting the many benefits that may or may not become available to them during their lifetime. Special Needs planning is a form of estate planning and financial planning designed to provide for and to protect a beneficiary with Special Needs while preserving entitlement to various needs-based public assistance programs when available.
The Special Assistance Network was pleased to attend a course on Qualitative Estate Planning sponsored by Law Practice CLE-Innovative Digital Education. The course discussed the core concepts of a qualitative estate plan such as family wealth and keeping and protecting such wealth in the family. It was a guide for Trustees, Beneficiaries, Advisors and Protectors. There was much discussion on the various types of trusts that can be beneficial for individuals in a family that may need protection from outsiders and adverse family members. This information was helpful in advising our clients with Special Needs and the individual dynamics that occur in many families that the Special Assistance Network advises.
The Special Assistance Network attended a teleconference on the updates on “Special Needs Trusts” sponsored by Law Practice CLE-Innovation Digital Education. This teleconference covered the recent updates on Special Needs Trusts and when they should be used including an overview of important asset-tested government benefit programs. The teleconference dealt with the enhanced advantages of third-party Special Needs Trusts and how they have positive impact on beneficiaries. The information gained through this educational legal seminar will be valuable in serving clients of the Special Assistance Network.
The Special Assistance Network attended a teleconference on “Estate Planning for the Disabled” sponsored by Cannon Financial Institute. This teleconference dealt with the various issues facing those Special Needs individuals with various techniques for estate planning for those individuals that are disabled and for those individuals who may be approaching some form of disability. Topics covered included financial abuse to capacity to understand various estate planning documents to the usage of Special Needs Trusts. The teleconference was very informative to assist the clientele of the Special Assistance Network.
The Special Assistance Network was pleased to attend a seminar on “Mediation from a Different Angle.” This seminar included tools for dispute resolution utilizing mediation tactics and strategies for dealing with conflict resolution when dealing with governmental agencies, non-governmental agencies, social welfare organizations, interested parties, and other parties that are in conflict with what you desire to happen. The Special Assistance Network attended this seminar in order to assist our clients with parties that “on first sight” are refusing to assist our clients. As always, the Special Assistance Network is always attempting to find additional skills and resources to assist its clients.
The Special Assistance Network attended a seminar on the Surprise Medical Billing Act sponsored by FosterBoughman law firm. This seminar provided an overview of the surprise medical billing issues surrounding many healthcare providers and facilities. This seminar addressed the Surprise Medical Billing Act’s implementation, including its prohibitions on surprise medical billing and confusing medical balance billing. It also addressed notice and consent exception processes, adequate disclosures, good faith estimates for health services, the Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process and potential penalties for improper billing practices. This seminar was very relevant because numerous Special Assistance Network clients have had issues and questions on various medical billing regarding their family members and the inadequate response they received from their medical providers and insurance providers. By attending this seminar, the Special Assistance Network will be able to assist our clients with a more definitive approach to some of these abusive medical billing practices.
Financial Advisor Louis Columbo, from the national brokerage house of Edward Jones in Daytona Beach, Florida, has joined in partnership with the Special Assistance Network as an authorized outside money manager for accounts that need such optional active money management.
The Special Assistance Network attended the Cannon Financial annual Estate Planning teleconference on “Beyond Boilerplate - Designing and Administering Special Purpose Trusts.” This teleconference focused on the design and administration of various types of trusts, such as incentive trusts, special needs trusts, and trusts designed to hold specific assets for specific purposes. The teleconference covered the latest updates which will be helpful to the clients of the Special Assistance Network.
The Special Assistance Network participated in the “MAKE’m SMILE Orlando” event sponsored by Nathaniel’s Hope. It was a day of special events, education, and interactions with families and adults with Special Needs. The Special Assistance Network assists in educating families on the need for Special Needs Trusts and how to protect their loved ones during their lifetime.
The Special Assistance Network (SAN) was recently asked and made a presentation to a large group of parents with children and adult individuals with various disabilities about the benefits of Special Needs Trusts. The Special Assistance Network provided a two hour presentation and a follow-up one-on-one individual question and answer period for all the attending parents. There were numerous members of the Special Assistance Network available at this presentation and available so all questions were answered in a timely manner. The Special Assistance Network appreciates the opportunity made available from the national organization “Advocates for Adult Children with Intellectual Disabilities” (AACID) to make such a timely presentation and to be exposed to so many parents with questions that could be answered by SAN for their benefit.
The Special Assistance Network was pleased to attend the Federal Bar Association Seminar on Advanced Estate Planning including Special Needs Trusts. The seminar covered a general overview of trusts and fundamental concepts and issues common to all trusts. The seminar also addressed the different types of Special Needs Trusts and when to use a 1st Party Special Needs Trust vs. a 3rd Party Special Needs Trust and how these two types of trusts handle proper asset protection for the beneficiary. The seminar also covered updates on Special Needs Trusts and various drafting considerations and specific legal language to utilize to protect clients and their families.
The Special Assistance Network was pleased to attend a virtual seminar on Ethical Estate Planning sponsored by the Iowa State Bar. This virtual seminar provided review of current topics in the estate planning area and discussed various aspects of proper estate planning for all members of a family including Special Needs individuals.
The Special Assistance Network attended a seminar sponsored by Autism Speaks on the Autism Resource Guide. The seminar advised how to use and navigate the Autism Resource Guide to assist families with special needs individuals with autism. The Special Assistance Network works and partners with Autism Speaks and gets regular updates from this organization to benefit all of our clients.
The Special Assistance Network was pleased to attend the Federal Bar Association Seminar on Understanding the Medicare Overpayment Appeals Process. Some clients of the Special Assistance Network have previously had issues with this Medicare Overpayment Appeals Process when dealing for the benefit of the beneficiaries of Special Needs Trusts, therefore this seminar provided valuable current information. The seminar provided an understanding of the Medicare administrative appeals process. It covered various types of Medicare audits and the process for appealing those audits. The seminar discussed the administrative process, time frames, as well as other information on the best avenues for avoiding Medicare appeals and audits, and if necessary, how to effectively prepare for defending against such audits. Included was the “dos and don’ts” and what is expected when dealing with such appeals process. The seminar also covered updates on how trustees of Special Needs Trusts should use considerations and specific language to assist in protecting their beneficiaries and their families.
Staff from the Special Assistance Network attended the 57th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning from January 9 thru 13, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. The Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning is the premier Estate Planning conference sponsored by the University of Miami School of Law in the United States. Staff from the Special Assistance Network learned all the latest case law and latest developments regarding the drafting, usage, and administration of Special Needs Trusts. The exposure of this information from the leading experts in the United States allows for the Special Assistance Network to be helpful and have greater ability to benefit its clients throughout the country. Regular specialized training like this is just another reason why people choose the Special Assistance Network to assist them with third-party trust administration of their Special Needs Trusts.
The Special Assistance Network was pleased to attend a seminar presented by ABLE United on “The Ins and Outs of ABLE Accounts.” ABLE United covered a high-level overview of ABLE accounts, who is eligible, how they work with benefit programs like Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid, as well as the enrollment process. The seminar was well attended and very informative.
The Special Assistance Network was pleased to participate in the 24th Annual Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida event in Orlando, Florida. The event included informational resource booths, a community walk around Lake Eola, and interaction with many community support systems available to individuals with this specific special need. The Special Assistance Network is proud to be a resource to this community of special individuals.
The Special Assistance Network was pleased to be invited and attended a Seminar on “Special Needs Trusts” sponsored by Law Practice CLE-Innovation Digital Education. This seminar covered Special Needs Trusts and when they should be used including an overview of important asset-tested government benefit programs. The seminar discussed the differences between 1st Party Special Needs Trusts vs. 3rd Party Special Needs Trusts and why one should favor the enhanced advantages of 3rd Party Special Needs Trusts for family members. The information gained through this educational seminar will be valuable in serving the clients of the Special Needs Network.
The Special Assistance Network attended “Autism in Special Education: Legal disputes involving students with autism” event. This event provided a comprehensive overview of the different laws that affect students on the autism spectrum and updated information on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The event concentrated on: what is the autism spectrum disorder, how to combat bullying, harassment and discipline involving students with ASD, and how to handle various ethical issues that may arise with individuals with autism.
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) recognized the Special Assistance Network as a non profit organization available to assist families in dealing with the paperwork involved in certifying individuals for assistance and care from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD).