This program is eligible for 3 hours of CLE credit in 60-minute states. In 50-minute states, this program is eligible for 3.6 hours of CLE credit. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules.
Overview
This continuing legal education program is designed to give attorneys a clear, practical understanding of how Medicaid works in the long-term care context. Many lawyers encounter clients facing nursing home costs or asset protection concerns, yet lack a working knowledge of Medicaid eligibility rules. This course provides a foundational framework to help attorneys confidently identify issues and better serve their clients.
The program begins with an overview of Medicaid eligibility, focusing on the distinction between income and resource limits. Participants will learn how assets are classified, including countable versus exempt resources, and how common assets—such as homes, retirement accounts, and jointly owned property—are treated. The course also addresses key protections available to a community spouse, helping attorneys understand how married couples are impacted differently under Medicaid rules.
The course then walks through the Medicaid application process, including required documentation, timelines, and the role of the caseworker. Attendees will gain insight into common mistakes that lead to delays or denials, and how to avoid them.
A core component of the program is the five-year lookback period and spend-down strategies. Participants will learn how transfers are evaluated, how penalties are calculated, and what options may exist when clients have made prior gifts. The course introduces permissible spend-down techniques and high-level planning concepts, emphasizing the importance of timing and proper legal authority.
Finally, the program uses real-world case studies to bring these concepts together. These examples illustrate how eligibility rules apply in practice and how strategic planning can significantly affect outcomes.
By the end of the course, attorneys will have a solid foundation in Medicaid eligibility, enabling them to spot issues, advise clients at a high level, and recognize when to involve an elder law specialist.
Recorded in June 2026.
Faculty
Timothy B. Sechler, Esq., CELA
Mr. Sechler is the Owner of the Sechler Law Firm, LLC, located in Warrendale, PA.His estate planning and elder law practice is focused on guiding clients through the complicated maze of balancing transfer strategies, wealth preservation, taxation, benefits eligibility and the preservation of family values. He is recognized as a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. Tim is a Co-Founder of the Red Wagon Club, an educational and social club that supports estate planning law firms and their clients in multiple states. Tim received his law degree from Duquesne University School of Law and his Master of Business Administration from the Duquesne University Donahue Graduate School of Business. Mr. Sechler received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from West Virginia University, majoring in finance. Mr. Sechler is a Combat Veteran, having served in Afghanistan as a member of the West Virginia Air National Guard. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys as well as the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys.
Marianne E. Kreisher, Esq., CELA, NCG
Ms. Kreisher is a Partner at Kreisher Marshall & Associates, LLC in Bloomsburg, where she practices in the areas of elder law, estate planning and administration, guardianship, supplemental needs planning and estate litigation. She earned her B.A. from Penn State University in 1993 and graduated cum laude from Widener Law School in Harrisburg in 1996. Following law school, Ms. Kreisher worked in the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office for eight years as a deputy attorney general handling criminal appeals, grand jury investigations and criminal prosecutions. Ms. Kreisher is a certified elder law attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation as well as a National Certified Guardian (NCG) by the Center for Guardianship Certification. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the National Guardianship Association, the Pennsylvania Guardianship Network, the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, and she is the Past-Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. In addition to her legal practice, Ms. Kreisher has served as an adjunct professor at Central Penn College and is a frequent lecturer for Pennsylvania Bar Institute continuing legal education programs. She is also deeply engaged in community leadership serving on the Bloomsburg Area School Board for 14 years – 4 years as President, and as Past President of both the Bloomsburg Kiwanis Club and the Columbia/Montour County Bar Association.
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Related Courses
Guardianship – Proposed Legislation (2023 Estate and Elder Law Symposium Session)
- City:
- Start Date:2023-02-14 19:00:00
- End Date:2025-02-14 19:00:00
- Length:
- Level:Various
- Topics:Elder
$79.00 ProPass
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