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--- Begin Message ---FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 24, 2007 CONTACT: CMA - Attorney Judith Stein (860) 456-7790 <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> NSCLC - Christy Ross (202) 289-6976, ext. 211 <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> CENTER FOR MEDICARE ADVOCACY AND NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS LAW CENTER ANNOUNCE NEW "JUSTICE PARTNERSHIP" AFFILIATION AND UPCOMING CONFERENCE The Center for Medicare Advocacy and the National Senior Citizens Law Center announce a new affiliation called the "Justice Partnership". The groups are planning a major conference in Washington, DC to focus advocates and policymakers on the challenges facing lower income older people and people with disabilities. The conference will take place this October. For two decades the Center for Medicare Advocacy and the National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC) have worked together. The two organizations have shared histories, interrelated missions, and have successfully collaborated in significant litigation, projects, and grants to advance the rights of older people and people with disabilities. The Justice Partnership grows out of a mutual concern that the safety net for older Americans, created over the last several decades, is unraveling. By collaborating more closely, both organizations will strengthen their ability to advance the legal rights of lower-income older people and people with disabilities and to ensure fair access to quality health care. The partnership comes as Michael Kelly takes the helm as NSCLC's new executive director. Kelly says he is excited about this new affiliation, "Together we will be able to tackle important work for our clients that neither organization could take on alone." Judith Stein, executive director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy agrees. "The Justice Partnership will expand our geographic horizons, our expertise, and our ability to solve the real problems of real people," says Ms. Stein. In celebration of the National Senior Citizens Law Center's 35th anniversary and the Center for Medicare Advocacy's 21st anniversary, the first major venture of the Justice Partnership will be a national conference about challenges facing lower-income older people. The conference will be held at the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington, DC on October 19th. It will assemble advocates, policy-makers, and academicians to examine creative solutions to meet the needs of an aging society. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Center for Medicare Advocacy (<http://www.medicareadvocacy.org> and <http://www.fairmedicare.org>): The Center for Medicare Advocacy works to advance fair access to Medicare and health care. The Center is a leading national voice for the long-term viability of traditional Medicare, based on the real life experiences of the thousands of individuals who contact the organization for help The Center responds to over 6,000 calls and emails each year, produces educational and self-help materials, pursues Medicare coverage for thousands of individual beneficiaries, provides administrative and legislative advocacy, litigates on behalf of individuals and classes, and provides legal support and training for Connecticut's State Health Insurance and Assistance program. The National Senior Citizens Law Center (<http://www.nsclc.org>): NSCLC advocates nationwide for the independence and well-being of low-income elderly people and others eligible for Medicaid, Medicare and SSI. NSCLC litigates class-action cases to keep open access to health care and income benefits; represents the interest of low-income people before Congress and administrative agencies; publishes consumer guides on long-term care issues and trains, informs and assists other advocates so that low-income elderly and disabled people have the best possible representation for the broadest possible range of cases. /*Your email ID. <diaEmailID='331311061' thread=6062/>--*/
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