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Probate & Trust Law Section Conference Manual ... - Minnesota CLE

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Appeals, but within three weeks of filing the appeal, the County<br />

requested dismissal of the appeal. The explanation given to counsel<br />

for the Estate was that an "important document," that would change<br />

the result, was not found until after the appeal was filed, and<br />

without that important document in the record, the appeal could<br />

fail. The Attorney General's office therefore was not interested in<br />

supporting the county's appeal. Without Attorney General support,<br />

the County was not interested in pursuing the appeal. By<br />

abandoning appeal of the Lindgren case, DHS can be expected to<br />

encourage the counties to pursue similar claims in other cases.<br />

Whether one "important document" can make a difference in<br />

interpreting the plain language of the applicable federal statute is<br />

open to doubt. The Lindgren case stands nevertheless as an<br />

important victory in the challenge to "transferee cause of action" in<br />

Minn. Stat. § 256B.0595. Attorney JoEllen Doebbert of<br />

Alexandria, MN, represented the Lindgrens.<br />

XI.<br />

UPDATE ON 2009 LEGISLATION TO UNDO BARG AND ITS PROGENY<br />

A. In anticipation of the potential loss in Barg, the Pawlenty Administration persuaded<br />

the 2009 session of the Legislature to amend various statutes to nullify Barg for<br />

recovery of medical assistance benefits for recipients who die on or after July 1,<br />

2009. These amendments also affect the property rights of community spouses<br />

whose spouse receives medical assistance benefits and dies on or after July 1,<br />

2009.<br />

B. The impact of these amendments on marital property rights, title to real property,<br />

intestate succession, and probate practice was discussed at length in Medical<br />

Assistance Estate Recovery and Marital Property Rights--Another Trip Through the<br />

Rabbit Hole, in Breakout Session D, Session 33, at last year's <strong>Probate</strong> and <strong>Trust</strong><br />

<strong>Law</strong> <strong>Conference</strong>.<br />

C. No test case to challenge the 2009 amendments has reached the hearing stage as<br />

yet. A test case can be expected before next year's <strong>Probate</strong> and <strong>Trust</strong> <strong>Law</strong><br />

<strong>Conference</strong>.<br />

XII.<br />

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR ADULTS WITHOUT CHILDREN<br />

A. Starting March 1, 2011, <strong>Minnesota</strong> accepted the invitation provided by the<br />

Affordable Care Act to provide early expansion of medical assistance benefits to<br />

adults without minor children living with them. This new program is commonly<br />

36

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