Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Donald Dennison
Who Will Make Decisions When an Older Adult Cannot? New Jersey’s Public Guardian Explained
An older adult living alone begins missing medical appointments and leaving bills unpaid. A hospital patient is ready for discharge but cannot understand the available care options. Relatives want to help, yet no one has legal authority to act, or no suitable person is available to take responsibility. These situations raise a difficult question: Who can step in while preserving as much of the person’s independence as possible?
Special Needs Planning Terms Explained: 11 Acronyms Every Family Needs to Know
July 23, 2026 To embed, copy and paste the code into your website or blog: When a child or loved one has a disability, families quickly discover that special needs planning comes with its own language. Conversations with attorneys, financial advisors, educators, healthcare providers, and government agencies are often filled with acronyms that can feel overwhelming at first.
Understanding Medicare Open Enrollment: A Complete Guide for 2025 | JD Supra
Every year, Medicare has a window in which beneficiaries can review and change certain parts of their coverage. According to the official site, the Open Enrollment Period (sometimes called the Annual Election Period) runs October 15 – December 7, 2025. Changes made during this period take effect January 1 of the following year. During this period, depending on the type of Medicare coverage you currently have, you can: Join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage (“Part C”) plan.
New Appellate Decision Highlights Importance of Medicaid Clinical Eligibility | JD Supra
When most people think about Medicaid, they focus on the financial component — income and asset limits that determine eligibility. For some Medicaid programs, however, the focus needs to be on both financial and clinical eligibility requirements. For example, older adults applying for Medicaid to cover the cost of long-term care need to place equal importance on establishing clinical eligibility.
Can I Give My Kids $19,000 a Year and Apply for Medicaid? | JD Supra
If you have money to give your children, you certainly can, but you should be aware that you may face consequences should you apply for Medicaid long-term care coverage within five years after each gift. Medicaid’s rules penalizing gifting apply notwithstanding your intention to take advantage of the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) gift tax exclusion. To that end, in 2025, you can give up to $19,000 to any one individual and not report the gift to the IRS.
Aging with Dignity: Why Home and Community-Based Services (“HCBS”) Matter | JD Supra
With federal budget cuts to Medicaid and other social service programs looming, increased attention is being placed on home and community-based (“HCBS”) Medicaid benefits. A recent opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times titled “Beyond Grace: Family Caregivers Need Real Backing” underscores the urgent need for greater investment in elder care—particularly for those who choose to age in place at home.
Medicaid Under Threat: How Budget Cuts Will Harm New Jersey’s Most Vulnerable | JD Supra
Last month, House Republicans introduced a budget resolution that would drastically cut funding for social welfare programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) if passed.
Elder Law and Special Needs Newsletter: March 2025 Issue | JD Supra
New Jersey Officially Introduces Driver’s License Notation for Autistic Motorists - Autistic motorists in New Jersey, as well as their parents/guardians, are now able to request that their autism diagnoses be notated on their driver’s license. This notation will appear as a code in the “restrictions” column of the driver’s license. In doing so, New Jersey joins 12 other states that offer similar driver’s license notations.
The Great Wealth Transfer: Preparing the Next Generation | JD Supra
The great wealth transfer is underway in America. Through 2045, Baby Boomers will pass down approximately $84 trillion to Gen Z, Millennials, and Gen X. But what constitutes a high-net-worth (HNW) inheritance? In the United States, that number averages nearly $750,000 per inheritor, but it can be much higher. Owners of HNW estates typically monitor and amend their estate plans regularly.
Medicaid Final Agency Decision Reaffirms Criteria Necessary to Qualify for Caregiver Child Exception | JD Supra
Certain Medicaid programs impose a transfer penalty on applicants who have transferred resources (assets) for less than fair market value within five (5) years preceding the Medicaid application. Simply stated, the transfer penalty is a period of time wherein Medicaid services will be withheld, regardless of whether those services are being sought in a long-term care facility or in the community. The length of the penalty period is determined by a penalty divisor.
Elder Law and Special Needs Newsletter: April 2024 Issue | JD Supra
Check out our April Elder Law and Special Needs newsletter! Our legal team explores important topics including beneficiary designations and the recent updates to the Medicaid divisor, which came into effect this month. Please see full publication below for more information.
Landmark Victory: Governor Signs Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights into Law in New Jersey | JD Supra
On January 12, 2024, Governor Phil Murphy signed the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights (S723) into law, representing a landmark victory for labor rights groups across the state. The new law, effective July 2024, extends labor rights including, but not limited to, mandatory minimum wage, paid sick leave, and protections against unlawful termination, to over 50,000 domestic workers, many of whom have historically been excluded from state and federal labor laws.
Elder Law and Special Needs Newsletter: February 2024 Issue | JD Supra
Our February Elder Law and Special Needs newsletter is now available! In this issue, our attorneys delve into timely topics such as recent legislative developments in New Jersey. Specifically, we explore new laws designed to support drivers with Autism, as well as initiatives establishing “Presumptive Eligibility” under Medicaid’s Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program. Stay informed and empowered with the latest insights from our team.
Elder Law and Special Needs Newsletter: November 2023 Issue | JD Supra
Your Health, Your Choice: A Guide to Medicare Open Enrollment - The Medicare open enrollment period runs through December 7th, 2023. Medicare adjusts costs, coverage, and accepted providers on an annual basis. If you have received “Evidence of Coverage,” or an “Annual Notice of Change,” from Medicare, now is the time to review your coverage, and, if necessary, make changes to your Medicare healthcare plan to better suit your needs for the coming year.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Donald
Contact Donald, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack