The Pro WirePro Seniors Newsletter Vol. 13 • June 2013

Pro Seniors513.345.4160 • 1.800.488.6070 • fax 513.621.5613

www.proseniors.org

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PA IDCINCINNATI, OH

PERMIT NO. 5205

7162 Reading RoadSuite 1150Cincinnati, Ohio 45237

Agency Partner

Pro Seniors7162 Reading Rd., Suite 1150 • Cincinnati, OH 45237 • www.proseniors.org • 513.345.4160 • 800.488.6070

Helping older persons resolve legal and long-term care problems

Board of TrusteesMary V. Meinhardt - President

Jennifer G. Anstaett, J.D. – Vice PresidentStanton H. Vollman, J.D., CPA (Inactive) – Treasurer

Christine A. Buttress, J.D. – Secretary

George R. BrownMaureen Callinan, J.D.

Nancy M. CassadyKenneth P. Coyne, J.D.

Linda A. Glass, J.D.Joshua Goode, J.D.

Michael M. KennedyChad S. Levin, J.D.Annie McManis

Rosalie P. van Nuis, J.D.Julia E. Tarvin, J.D.

Thomas WelchM. Jay Wertz, CFP

James D. Yunker, Ed.D

Rhonda Y. Moore, J.D., Executive Director

Highlights from 2012 include:

• Helped more than 7,200 seniors with legal and long-term care problems• Made nearly 1,200 visits to long-term care facilities

• Made over 460 community education presentations to 21,823 seniors, their families, and caregivers, aswell as to professionals who help older persons

• Assisted 150 seniors and their families with nursing home selection

• Health-related issues (Medicare, Medicaid) made up the biggest percentage (29%) of seniors’ legalproblems. 19% of the legal problems related to consumer issues, while about 15% representedhousing issues. The remainder of legal problems concerned probate/estate issues, income/pensions,and family issues.

• Our Mid-America Pension Rights Project helped retirees obtain over $3,300,000 (cash accumulatedvalue) in retirement benefits.

• Pro Seniors’ dedicated Ohio SMP, ombudsman and legal volunteers provided over 2,800 hours ofservice to seniors!

Thank You to our Board, staff, volunteers, and our wonderful community donors and supporters foryour commitment to the Pro Seniors mission.

2012 Highlights

INSIDE! Your invitation to our 4th Annual“Rock On for Seniors”

August 10, 2013 Register

today!

Pro Seniors’ 2012 Annual Report is now available atwww.proseniors.org. Because of your support,thousands of Ohio seniors continue to benefit fromPro Seniors’ outstanding legal and long-term careassistance.

4th Annual“Rock On for Seniors”

August 10, 2013

MARKYOUR

CALENDAR!

And watch the Pro SeniorsFacebook page forimportant updates!

2www.proseniors.org

3www.proseniors.org

Welcome, New Board Members!We are very pleased to announce that the following four individuals have recently joined Pro Seniors’ Board of Trustees:

If you or a loved one receives long-term care, there is an important health care change on the horizon aboutwhich you should be aware. This change will impact many families since over 78,000 older Ohioans receivedlong-term care services and supports through Medicaid in 2011. This change also impacts all Ohio taxpayersbecause Medicaid pays for approximately two-thirds of all nursing home costs in the state.

Beginning March 2014, Ohio will begin implementation of MyCare Ohio, a system of managed care plans tocoordinate the physical, behavioral, and long-term care services for individuals over the age of 18 who areeligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, also known as “dual eligibles.”

Ohio is one of five states approved by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) to proceed with athree year demonstration project that offers the potential to improve care coordination, lower program costs,and achieve outcomes such as the increased use of HCBS (Home and Community Based Services) instead ofinstitutional care. The MyCare Ohio benefit package includes all benefits available through the traditionalMedicare and Medicaid programs plus additional services chosen by the managed care plan.

Dual eligible beneficiaries include seniors and non-elderly people with significant disabilities, some of whomare among the poorest and sickest beneficiaries covered by either Medicare or Medicaid. MyCare Ohio willcover 115,000 dual eligibles in 29 counties grouped into 7 regions. Dual eligible beneficiaries with othercomprehensive coverage, such as those with developmental disabilities, those on a Medicaid spend down,Medicare hospice and PACE enrollees will be excluded from MyCare Ohio.

MyCare Ohio will begin with notification of a voluntary enrollment period followed by automatic assignmentto a managed care plan for beneficiaries who failed to affirmatively opt in or opt out of MyCare Ohio. Thoughdual eligibles may opt out of MyCare Ohio at any time, Ohio plans to apply for a waiver to require beneficiariesto enroll in a Medicaid managed care plan even if they opt out of MyCare Ohio.

Area Agencies on Aging will coordinate MyCare Ohio HCBS homecare, such as PASSPORT services, for themanaged care plans for all beneficiaries over age 60 and Ohio’s Office of the State Long-term Care Ombudsmanwill offer individual advocacy and independent systemic oversight in the demonstration.

While MyCare Ohio offers the potential to improve care coordination, lower program costs and achieve betteroutcomes, the managed care plan manager and the entire care team must recognize that the high care needsof many dual eligible beneficiaries increases their vulnerability when care delivery systems are changed.

by Tom Bedall, Pro Seniors Managing Attorney

by Taylor Smith, UC Communications intern

MyCare Ohio:What You Should Know

Volunteer Spotlight: Marina Garcia

Todd BaileyJeffrey BakstDonald BarnhartRobert BartholomewStephen BlackRozlyn BleznickMatthew BrownfieldMr. & Mrs. Henry BruewerNancy BulgerThomas CalderSean CaldwellConnie DettmerMr. & Mrs. Leo R. FordThe GE FoundationH. Drewry Gores

Christine HeckermanScott KnoxBarb & Greg LampingDavid LichtenfeldLexis NexisDonald Mellott, Sr.Michael MooneyMarjorie MotchEdward O’DonnellOhio Coalition for Adult ProtectiveRemke Biggs MarketsSuzanne Cassady RuehrLeo ShullerPaul H. TobiasDarrell Willis

Donor Honor RollWe sincerely thank the following supporters for their generous gifts that were received by Pro Seniors between January 15 - June 1, 2013.

Gifts in Memory of:

Gifts in Honor of:Christine ButtressJoan & John Taylor

Maryellen CosgroveNancy Cassady

Engagement of Nathan Pulley & Lisa BoyceSteve Mombach

Ginger & Woodford DayMary Day

Thomas Welch FamilySusan Welch

Gigi & Steve BernardKathryn Bernard

Robert J. BradleyBetty Bradley

Christina V. GuerraGrace Sewall

George MeinhardtKaty MeinhardtAlan & Judy Schmidt

Rose MerblumDr. & Mrs. Barry MitnickDr. & Mrs. Stanley Shulman

Bob MooreGrace Ayer Maria Curro KreppelMark Ayer Mary MeinhardtChristine Buttress Rhonda Moore & Tom BedallMary Day Yvonne MooreLois & Dennis Doyle Bernie & Jerry O’ConnellAnne Fredrickson Pro Seniors StaffKiplinger & Co. CPAs LLC Grace SewallDiane & Dave Kleinfelter Rosalie P. van Nuis

Betty Bailey RalstonMary Ann Raymond

Esther & Bernard RomerAllen Romer

Gladys SimmonsElmer Simmons, Jr.

We apologize for any errors or omissions. Although every effort is made to ensureaccuracy, mistakes may still occur. Please contact Diane Kleinfelter

(dkleinfelter@proseniors.org) so we can correct inaccuracies.

Julia E. Tarvin, partner in the Private ClientPractice Group of Taft Stettinius & Hollister,where she focuses her practice on estateplanning and probate and trust administration.Before attending law school, she worked withadults with chronic mental illness in HamiltonCounty and continues to help meet the needs ofthose families with special needs through estateplanning. Julie is also honored as a Best Lawyerin America for 2013 for Trusts and Estates.

Our sincere thanks go to Herschel Chalk, Lynn Gray, and Deborah Robb whose terms of office on our Board of Trustees haveexpired. We greatly appreciate their generous gifts of time, talent and resources in support of the Pro Seniors’ mission.

George R. Brown, retired CEO of ClermontSenior Services, realtor, community volunteer,and apprentice auctioneer with Joel T. WilsonAuctioneers. George possesses extensiveexperience in the administration of services forolder adults, and is the recipient of manyhonors for his service to Clermont County, theCouncil on Aging of Southwestern Ohio, andthe Clermont Chamber.

Chad S. Levin, Esq., an attorney with Robbins,Kelly, Patterson & Tucker who specializes in estateplanning, estate and trust administration, elderlaw, business and transactional law, and tax law. Aresident of Deerfield Township, he enjoysworking with individuals and families in estateplanning and administration, as well as with smalland medium-sized businesses in a variety ofplanning and operational areas.

Annie McManis, President & Owner of CopperfoxMarketing, a Hyde Park-based marketing com-munications agency that serves local, regionaland national clients in a number of industries.Annie is also a founder in Cincinnati mobiletechnology start-up Hapzing which is preparingto launch its first app to the iPhone market thissummer. She was also an instructor of com-munications at Miami University (Oxford, OH).

Every day, a variety of community volunteers support Pro Seniors by assisting our staff in deliveringour critically needed programs and services to vulnerable Ohio seniors.

Marina Garcia has been a valued Pro Seniors Long-Term Care Ombudsman volunteer for almost threeyears, visiting with, befriending and educating nursing home residents about their rights in the facilitywhere they live. Before becoming a part of the Pro Seniors volunteer team, Marina obtained herdegree in Fine Arts and taught classes for a wide variety of ages. She also has a master’s degree insocial gerontology from the University of Leon, Spain. Marina comes from a very family orientedbackground that respects their elders greatly, and volunteering at Pro Seniors helps Marina live thesevalues while learning at the same time. She enjoys her volunteer ombudsman experience because shelikes to stick up for others and loves the knowledge that comes with it, especially from training. Whenasked about her favorite part about volunteering for Pro Seniors, Marina said, “I like that I have a

purpose for the community; it makes me feel helpful and useful. Volunteering for Pro Seniors has been a wonderful and lifechanging experience for me.” Marina’s future plans are to keep learning, working as a volunteer, producing fine art works, andraising her children.

Marina is also a featured artist in our “Rock On for Seniors” fundraiser. Over the past few years she has generously donatedher time and talent, creating beautiful rocking chairs for our benefit, and this year she has contributed a wonderful six-pieceset of framed art, “Rocking Chair Lifetime,” that will surely be a highlight of our signature event on August 10. Thank you,Marina, for the many ways that you contribute to Pro Seniors and to those we serve!

2www.proseniors.org

3www.proseniors.org

Welcome, New Board Members!We are very pleased to announce that the following four individuals have recently joined Pro Seniors’ Board of Trustees:

If you or a loved one receives long-term care, there is an important health care change on the horizon aboutwhich you should be aware. This change will impact many families since over 78,000 older Ohioans receivedlong-term care services and supports through Medicaid in 2011. This change also impacts all Ohio taxpayersbecause Medicaid pays for approximately two-thirds of all nursing home costs in the state.

Beginning March 2014, Ohio will begin implementation of MyCare Ohio, a system of managed care plans tocoordinate the physical, behavioral, and long-term care services for individuals over the age of 18 who areeligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, also known as “dual eligibles.”

Ohio is one of five states approved by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) to proceed with athree year demonstration project that offers the potential to improve care coordination, lower program costs,and achieve outcomes such as the increased use of HCBS (Home and Community Based Services) instead ofinstitutional care. The MyCare Ohio benefit package includes all benefits available through the traditionalMedicare and Medicaid programs plus additional services chosen by the managed care plan.

Dual eligible beneficiaries include seniors and non-elderly people with significant disabilities, some of whomare among the poorest and sickest beneficiaries covered by either Medicare or Medicaid. MyCare Ohio willcover 115,000 dual eligibles in 29 counties grouped into 7 regions. Dual eligible beneficiaries with othercomprehensive coverage, such as those with developmental disabilities, those on a Medicaid spend down,Medicare hospice and PACE enrollees will be excluded from MyCare Ohio.

MyCare Ohio will begin with notification of a voluntary enrollment period followed by automatic assignmentto a managed care plan for beneficiaries who failed to affirmatively opt in or opt out of MyCare Ohio. Thoughdual eligibles may opt out of MyCare Ohio at any time, Ohio plans to apply for a waiver to require beneficiariesto enroll in a Medicaid managed care plan even if they opt out of MyCare Ohio.

Area Agencies on Aging will coordinate MyCare Ohio HCBS homecare, such as PASSPORT services, for themanaged care plans for all beneficiaries over age 60 and Ohio’s Office of the State Long-term Care Ombudsmanwill offer individual advocacy and independent systemic oversight in the demonstration.

While MyCare Ohio offers the potential to improve care coordination, lower program costs and achieve betteroutcomes, the managed care plan manager and the entire care team must recognize that the high care needsof many dual eligible beneficiaries increases their vulnerability when care delivery systems are changed.

by Tom Bedall, Pro Seniors Managing Attorney

by Taylor Smith, UC Communications intern

MyCare Ohio:What You Should Know

Volunteer Spotlight: Marina Garcia

Todd BaileyJeffrey BakstDonald BarnhartRobert BartholomewStephen BlackRozlyn BleznickMatthew BrownfieldMr. & Mrs. Henry BruewerNancy BulgerThomas CalderSean CaldwellConnie DettmerMr. & Mrs. Leo R. FordThe GE FoundationH. Drewry Gores

Christine HeckermanScott KnoxBarb & Greg LampingDavid LichtenfeldLexis NexisDonald Mellott, Sr.Michael MooneyMarjorie MotchEdward O’DonnellOhio Coalition for Adult ProtectiveRemke Biggs MarketsSuzanne Cassady RuehrLeo ShullerPaul H. TobiasDarrell Willis

Donor Honor RollWe sincerely thank the following supporters for their generous gifts that were received by Pro Seniors between January 15 - June 1, 2013.

Gifts in Memory of:

Gifts in Honor of:Christine ButtressJoan & John Taylor

Maryellen CosgroveNancy Cassady

Engagement of Nathan Pulley & Lisa BoyceSteve Mombach

Ginger & Woodford DayMary Day

Thomas Welch FamilySusan Welch

Gigi & Steve BernardKathryn Bernard

Robert J. BradleyBetty Bradley

Christina V. GuerraGrace Sewall

George MeinhardtKaty MeinhardtAlan & Judy Schmidt

Rose MerblumDr. & Mrs. Barry MitnickDr. & Mrs. Stanley Shulman

Bob MooreGrace Ayer Maria Curro KreppelMark Ayer Mary MeinhardtChristine Buttress Rhonda Moore & Tom BedallMary Day Yvonne MooreLois & Dennis Doyle Bernie & Jerry O’ConnellAnne Fredrickson Pro Seniors StaffKiplinger & Co. CPAs LLC Grace SewallDiane & Dave Kleinfelter Rosalie P. van Nuis

Betty Bailey RalstonMary Ann Raymond

Esther & Bernard RomerAllen Romer

Gladys SimmonsElmer Simmons, Jr.

We apologize for any errors or omissions. Although every effort is made to ensureaccuracy, mistakes may still occur. Please contact Diane Kleinfelter

(dkleinfelter@proseniors.org) so we can correct inaccuracies.

Julia E. Tarvin, partner in the Private ClientPractice Group of Taft Stettinius & Hollister,where she focuses her practice on estateplanning and probate and trust administration.Before attending law school, she worked withadults with chronic mental illness in HamiltonCounty and continues to help meet the needs ofthose families with special needs through estateplanning. Julie is also honored as a Best Lawyerin America for 2013 for Trusts and Estates.

Our sincere thanks go to Herschel Chalk, Lynn Gray, and Deborah Robb whose terms of office on our Board of Trustees haveexpired. We greatly appreciate their generous gifts of time, talent and resources in support of the Pro Seniors’ mission.

George R. Brown, retired CEO of ClermontSenior Services, realtor, community volunteer,and apprentice auctioneer with Joel T. WilsonAuctioneers. George possesses extensiveexperience in the administration of services forolder adults, and is the recipient of manyhonors for his service to Clermont County, theCouncil on Aging of Southwestern Ohio, andthe Clermont Chamber.

Chad S. Levin, Esq., an attorney with Robbins,Kelly, Patterson & Tucker who specializes in estateplanning, estate and trust administration, elderlaw, business and transactional law, and tax law. Aresident of Deerfield Township, he enjoysworking with individuals and families in estateplanning and administration, as well as with smalland medium-sized businesses in a variety ofplanning and operational areas.

Annie McManis, President & Owner of CopperfoxMarketing, a Hyde Park-based marketing com-munications agency that serves local, regionaland national clients in a number of industries.Annie is also a founder in Cincinnati mobiletechnology start-up Hapzing which is preparingto launch its first app to the iPhone market thissummer. She was also an instructor of com-munications at Miami University (Oxford, OH).

Every day, a variety of community volunteers support Pro Seniors by assisting our staff in deliveringour critically needed programs and services to vulnerable Ohio seniors.

Marina Garcia has been a valued Pro Seniors Long-Term Care Ombudsman volunteer for almost threeyears, visiting with, befriending and educating nursing home residents about their rights in the facilitywhere they live. Before becoming a part of the Pro Seniors volunteer team, Marina obtained herdegree in Fine Arts and taught classes for a wide variety of ages. She also has a master’s degree insocial gerontology from the University of Leon, Spain. Marina comes from a very family orientedbackground that respects their elders greatly, and volunteering at Pro Seniors helps Marina live thesevalues while learning at the same time. She enjoys her volunteer ombudsman experience because shelikes to stick up for others and loves the knowledge that comes with it, especially from training. Whenasked about her favorite part about volunteering for Pro Seniors, Marina said, “I like that I have a

purpose for the community; it makes me feel helpful and useful. Volunteering for Pro Seniors has been a wonderful and lifechanging experience for me.” Marina’s future plans are to keep learning, working as a volunteer, producing fine art works, andraising her children.

Marina is also a featured artist in our “Rock On for Seniors” fundraiser. Over the past few years she has generously donatedher time and talent, creating beautiful rocking chairs for our benefit, and this year she has contributed a wonderful six-pieceset of framed art, “Rocking Chair Lifetime,” that will surely be a highlight of our signature event on August 10. Thank you,Marina, for the many ways that you contribute to Pro Seniors and to those we serve!

The Pro WirePro Seniors Newsletter Vol. 13 • June 2013

Pro Seniors513.345.4160 • 1.800.488.6070 • fax 513.621.5613

www.proseniors.org

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PA IDCINCINNATI, OH

PERMIT NO. 5205

7162 Reading RoadSuite 1150Cincinnati, Ohio 45237

Agency Partner

Pro Seniors7162 Reading Rd., Suite 1150 • Cincinnati, OH 45237 • www.proseniors.org • 513.345.4160 • 800.488.6070

Helping older persons resolve legal and long-term care problems

Board of TrusteesMary V. Meinhardt - President

Jennifer G. Anstaett, J.D. – Vice PresidentStanton H. Vollman, J.D., CPA (Inactive) – Treasurer

Christine A. Buttress, J.D. – Secretary

George R. BrownMaureen Callinan, J.D.

Nancy M. CassadyKenneth P. Coyne, J.D.

Linda A. Glass, J.D.Joshua Goode, J.D.

Michael M. KennedyChad S. Levin, J.D.Annie McManis

Rosalie P. van Nuis, J.D.Julia E. Tarvin, J.D.

Thomas WelchM. Jay Wertz, CFP

James D. Yunker, Ed.D

Rhonda Y. Moore, J.D., Executive Director

Highlights from 2012 include:

• Helped more than 7,200 seniors with legal and long-term care problems• Made nearly 1,200 visits to long-term care facilities

• Made over 460 community education presentations to 21,823 seniors, their families, and caregivers, aswell as to professionals who help older persons

• Assisted 150 seniors and their families with nursing home selection

• Health-related issues (Medicare, Medicaid) made up the biggest percentage (29%) of seniors’ legalproblems. 19% of the legal problems related to consumer issues, while about 15% representedhousing issues. The remainder of legal problems concerned probate/estate issues, income/pensions,and family issues.

• Our Mid-America Pension Rights Project helped retirees obtain over $3,300,000 (cash accumulatedvalue) in retirement benefits.

• Pro Seniors’ dedicated Ohio SMP, ombudsman and legal volunteers provided over 2,800 hours ofservice to seniors!

Thank You to our Board, staff, volunteers, and our wonderful community donors and supporters foryour commitment to the Pro Seniors mission.

2012 Highlights

INSIDE! Your invitation to our 4th Annual“Rock On for Seniors”

August 10, 2013 Register

today!

Pro Seniors’ 2012 Annual Report is now available atwww.proseniors.org. Because of your support,thousands of Ohio seniors continue to benefit fromPro Seniors’ outstanding legal and long-term careassistance.

4th Annual“Rock On for Seniors”

August 10, 2013

MARKYOUR

CALENDAR!

And watch the Pro SeniorsFacebook page forimportant updates!