The Special Assistance Network attended a seminar on “10 Tips to Help Your Negotiations: In Healthcare, In Mediation, and In Life” sponsored by FosterBroughman law firm in Orlando, Florida. The seminar provided helpful strategies to assist clients of the Special Assistance Network in dealing with healthcare issues, in mediation issues with such agencies such as the Social Security Administration, and in dealing with various life issues that arise when assisting their Special Needs family member.
The Special Assistance Network attended a course on Mental Health and Wellness sponsored by Law Practice CLE-Innovative Digital Education. The course discussed the understanding of the connection between nutrition and mental health, how vitamin deficiencies impact depression, how the immune system affects mental health, how to identify various toxic influences that may threaten mental wellness, and helpful strategies for supporting mental health. 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 training seminar on medical health insurance for Special Needs clients sponsored by United Healthcare. Since 2018, the Special Assistance Network has had staff authorized as licensed agents to provide UnitedHealthcare medical insurance to special needs individuals of any age. The Special Assistance Network can offer and sign up special needs individuals that are on Medicare and Medicaid for the medical supplemental plans they need and have requested: the UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete LP (HMO SNP) in Florida and the UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete RP (PPO SNP) in Florida. This is another continuing added benefit available through the Special Assistance Network.
SAN Insights (please see SAN Insights to view the award)
The Special Assistance Network (SAN) thought this news was important to many of our families we serve. SAN received an award yesterday and it was a complete and pleasant surprise. It was all because we serve clients like you that make us work harder every day to help all of those with Special Needs.
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Special Assistance Network Receives 2023 Best of Apopka Award
Apopka Award Program Honors the Achievement
APOPKA October 2, 2023 -- Special Assistance Network has been selected for the 2023 Best of Apopka Award in the Non-Profit Organization category by the Apopka Award Program.
Each year, the Apopka Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Apopka area a great place to live, work and play.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2023 Apopka Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Apopka Award Program and data provided by third parties.
About Apopka Award Program
The Apopka Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Apopka area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.
The Apopka Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.
SOURCE: Apopka Award Program
Apopka Award Program
Email: PublicRelations@cities-recognition.com
URL: http://www.cities-recognition.com
Distribution to local, state, and national news sources
The Special Assistance Network attended a special session presented by the Downs Syndrome of Florida Foundation. This session discussed and gave options for homeschooling resources that are available to those with Special Needs and specifically those with Downs Syndrome. All ages and all grade levels were discussed on how parents can obtain the proper resources for this valuable need when other options are not available.
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.