Nursing Homes, Behavioral Health, and Residents’ Rights

10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.

Welcome and Introduction

Lisa Volpe, Esq.

Adjunct Professor of Law, Cardozo Law School, New York, NY

(Formerly Deputy Chief Attorney with Special Litigation and Appeals Unit of the Mental Hygiene Legal Service (MHLS), Second Judicial Department)

10:05 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.

Nursing Homes, Behavioral Health, and Residents’ Rights

Many of our clients have psychiatric diagnoses and often co-occurring cognitive disorders and need a nursing home level of care. This program will present the basics you need to know about screening and evaluation requirements prior to admission to a nursing home and required reviews and assessments; residents’ rights to behavioral health services and care planning; and discharge rights and appeals process. The panel will also discuss proposed federal requirements, quality of care and typical deficiencies related to behavioral health in nursing homes.

Topics to be discussed include:

1. Federal Requirements for Preadmission Screening & Resident Review (PASRR), the New York System, and Resident Assessments.
2. Behavioral Health Services and Care Planning requirements; proposed federal changes to staffing & facility assessments.
3. Quality of Care – typical deficiencies.
4. Involuntary Discharges and Transfers – Rights & Appeals.

Panel:

Lisa Volpe, Esq. (Moderator)

Adjunct Professor of Law, Cardozo Law School, New York, NY

Nina Loewenstein, Esq.

Staff Attorney, Disability Law Center, Boston, MA

Lindsay Heckler, Esq.

Supervising Attorney & Policy Director, Center for Elder Law & Justice, Buffalo, NY

Tanya Kessler, Esq.

Senior Staff Attorney, Disability & Aging Rights Project, Mobilization for Justice, New York, NY

1.5 Credits in Areas of Professional Practice

11:20 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Q&A