National Conference

2025 National Conference on
Special Needs Planning and Special Needs Trusts Main Conference
Friday, October 24, 2025

8:10 a.m.-8:15 a.m. 

Welcome and Announcement

8:15 a.m.-9:05 a.m.

Medicaid Update
Alice Burns
In this session, Alice Burns, PhD, Associate Director of KFF’s Medicaid and Uninsured Program will provide an overview of the possible changes to the Medicaid program stemming from Congressional action and the implications for states. Dr. Burns will describe how to access KFF's state-level resources and share state-level data for participants to access information about their state’s program.

9:05 a.m.-9:45 a.m.    

Planning for and Advising Clients 
Alice Burns, Mary O’Byrne, Mary Alice Jackson, and Neal Winston 
Following Dr. Burns’ session, a panel of practitioners will briefly discuss what is happening in their states, how they are approaching  planning, and how they are advising their clients in this time of change.

9:45 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

Break and Visit with Sponsors and Exhibitors
Sponsored by InterActive Legal

10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Medicare Updates
David Lipschutz
The health care and Medicare landscape is rapidly shifting at the federal level.  This presentation will provide the latest updates on changes in law and policy, including Medicare Advantage and Part D and ongoing barriers to care.

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 

The Update
Elizabeth Friman and Robert Fleming
A review the year’s most significant, interesting and/or quirky cases, and statutory or regulatory changes. Join us for a fast-paced review of a bumpy year.

12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.

Lunch
Sponsored by Advocacy Trust

1:30 p.m.-2:20 p.m.     Breakout Session 1

  • IEPs and Transition Plans: Present Levels for Future Planning 
    Jeff Eckert
    This session will briefly discuss the history and purpose of IEPs and Transition Plans under the Individuals with Education Act (IDEA). Through IEPs and Transition Plans, specially designed instruction is utilized to meet students with disabilities' unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living. Each IEP and Transition Plan contains present levels of academic achievement and functional performance which highlight the student's current disability related needs but can be used in planning for meeting future needs.
  • Passing the Baton: Trustee Resignation, Release, and Transition Challenges in Supplemental Needs Trusts 
    Tara Anne Pleat
    This session will examine the logistical and legal complexities of resigning and transferring administration of first- and third-party Supplemental Needs Trusts (SNTs). Topics include preparing a trustee resignation, finding a successor trustee, facilitating a formal release, navigating final trust accountings, and ensuring a seamless handoff to the chosen successor.
  • 2025 Tax Update
    Bradley Frigon
    The 2018 Tax Cuts and Job Act (TCJA) will sunset at the end of 2025.  This session will review any new tax legislation that extends or replaces the provisions of the TCJA.

2:25 p.m.-3:15 p.m.     Breakout Session 2

  • Is the Trust an Employer? 
    Jason Bent
    On occasion, the trustee may hire a person to provide services to the beneficiary. Does this create an employment relationship? Trustees need to consider the independent contractor/employee distinction under relevant employment laws. Potential employment law implications include payroll tax withholding, workers’ compensation insurance, immigration status, accommodations, and more.
  • Scams and Deception Abound
    Mark Bauer and Janet Varnell
    Learn about scams and (probably) legal but scam-adjacent business practices that may confound your clients...and you!
  • Are Work Requirements the Future of Medicaid? 
    Thomas Smith
    Arkansas is seeking to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients to help balance its budget…and expand services.  Other rural states are considering the same.  Is work the future of Medicaid?  We will discuss the currently pending Medicaid Waiver Application, who is actually “able bodied” for Medicaid purposes, and whether this program can actually lead to expanded access to services for disabled individuals.  The presenter brings insight from his service on the Arkansas Legislative Committee for Autism on how a small rural state is struggling to balance its budget, increase access to IDD and Autism waiver services, and combat alleged abuse of the Medicaid system.

3:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Break and Visit with Sponsors and Exhibitors
Sponsored by InterActive Legal 

3:30 p.m.-4:20 p.m.     Breakout Session 3

  • Navigating Distance & Disability: Legal and Fiduciary Approaches to Remote Caregiving 
    Michael Cognetti and Tara Anne Pleat
    As families grow more geographically dispersed, attorneys and trust officers are increasingly called upon to help clients navigate the complexities of remote caregiving. This program addresses the intersection of distance, disability, and decision-making—focusing on legal, fiduciary, and practical strategies to support aging or disabled individuals when primary caregivers live far away. Topics include care coordination, surrogate decision-making, communication protocols, housing transitions, and the role of professional fiduciaries. Attendees will gain insights into crafting proactive, durable care plans that reflect both the legal realities and the human dynamics of remote caregiving.  
  • The House is on Fire...Literally 
    Bridget O'Brien Swartz and Mark Bauer
    [Description coming soon]
  • The Great SNT Road Trip: First-Party SNT Beneficiaries Crossing State Lines  
    Christopher Smith
    Buckle up for a cross-country primer on how first-party SNTs navigate divergent drafting requirements, Medicaid rules, and lien enforcement as beneficiaries may move from state to state. 

4:20 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Visit with Sponsors and Exhibitors

4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

If I Knew Then What I Know Now: Wisdom from Experienced SNT Attorneys
Janet Lowder, Vincent Russo, Shirley Whitenack, and Robert Fleming 
Join a panel of seasoned special needs planning attorneys as they share the hard-learned lessons, unexpected challenges, and pivotal moments that have shaped their careers. This candid and conversational session offers practical wisdom on drafting, administration, client communication, litigation pitfalls, and evolving best practices.