| LEGAL
AND CONSUMER SERVICES CITIZENS
FOR BETTER CARE Lansing, MI 48911-3800
Ph: (517) 393-9405 or 1-800-292-7852 Fax:
(517) 887-8071 Hours: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday with 24-hour answering service. Services:
The Long Term Care Ombudsman program provides information about
how to look for long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes,
homes for the aged, adult foster care and assisted living. The program
also provides information and assistance for residents in long-term
care facilities to help with problem solving and addressing complaints.
In addition to community education, publications are available that
cover a range of issues including choosing a long-term care facility,
resident rights, Medicare, Medicaid and advanced directives. Eligibility: No restrictions. Cost: Donations accepted. A donation for literature is optional CONSUMER
PROTECTION DIVISION Fax: (517) 373-3042 Web: www.michigan.gov/ag Hours: 8:00 - 12 noon and 1:00 -5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Services: Handles consumer complaints in areas such as retail, advertising, landlord/tenant, manufacturer warranties, or can refer cases to appropriate agency. Can take legal action against companies, etc. Free pamphlets are available. Eligibility: No restrictions. Cost: All services free of charge. COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Services: Prosecutes violations of criminal law; acts to obtain child support in limited circumstances. Violations of criminal law must first be reported to the police and a report must be taken. Eligibility: The criminal offense must have been committed in the county boundaries. Cost: None. GREENPATH
DEBT SOLUTIONS website: www.greenpath.com Hours: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Appointments available til 6 pm M-W. Services: Provides financial counseling in a confidential and dignified manner by professionally trained counselors. Helps families work out an orderly debt repayment program. Provides sound money management information on budgeting and the wise use of credit. Eligibility: Anyone seeking services. Cost: The initial interview is free. Canl be over the phone or in person. When a debt repayment program is needed, fees are based on ability to pay. Must have income of some kind /more than owed on a monthly basis. DIVISION
OF INSURANCE Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Services: Assist Michigan residents in their dealings with banks, credit unions, insurers, commercial finance lenders and securities, brokers/dealers, HMO's and Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Examine the financial solvency of insurance companies, banks, credit unions, securities, license and regulate agents, brokers/dealers, companies and agencies. Review financial institutions and insurance industries conduct. Goal: To provide excellent customer service and effectively regulate the banking, credit union, insurance and securities industries. Eligibility: No restrictions. Cost: None. LEGAL
HOTLINE FOR MICHIGAN SENIORS Internet: http://www.legalhotlineonline.org Pension Program: (517) 372-5959 Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Services: Telephone consultation and legal advice for seniors. Examples of the problems on which advice will be provided include consumer problems, social security/SSI problems, medical bills, Medicare and Medicaid questions, real estate matters, wills and probate questions, family matters, automobile problems, and personal injuries. Eligibility: Michigan residents age 60 and older. Cost: When a senior calls to talk with a hotline lawyer, there will be no charge. Donations are welcome. If, after talking to the hotline lawyer, the caller wants more legal representation, a number of options are available depending on the service rendered and the senior's financial circumstances. LEGAL
SERVICES OF SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN www.lsscm.org Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Services: Provides a full range of legal services at no cost to low-income residents in Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Shiawassee and Barry counties. Advice and representation services are limited to housing, consumer, public benefits, including social security, SSI, and Medicare/Medicaid and family law. Eligibility: Income at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. Persons over age 60 should contact the Sixty-Plus Law Center. Cost: None. MICHIGAN
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL RIGHTS Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. An appointment is advised. Services: Handles complaints in broad areas of discrimination, including age, employment, handicapper concerns, housing, education, public accommodation and public services including law enforcement. Speakers are available for presentations. Eligibility: Anyone who feels they have been discriminated against may call.An appointment is advised. Cost: None. MICHIGAN PROBLEM GAMBLING HELP LINE PH: 1-800-270-7117 MICHIGAN MEDICARE/MEDICAID ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MMAP) State Office: 6105 W St Joseph, Ste. 204 Lansing, MI 48917 Ph: (517) 886-1242 Fax: (517) 886-1305 Tri-County
Office on Aging Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Services: Counseling program when help is needed understanding Medicare, medical bills, supplemental insurance, or Medicaid. MMAP counselors are specially trained volunteers. Home visits for the homebound require special arrangements. Click here for more details. Eligibility: Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries, families. Cost: None. MICHIGAN PEER REVIEW ORGANIZATION (MPRO) 22670
Haggerty Rd, Ste. 100 Fax: (248)465-7428 website:
http://www.mpro.org Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Services: MPRO is a private, non-profit agency of doctors and nurses responsible for reviewing the hospital care given to Medicare Part A patients in Michigan. Contracts with the federal government to help assure you receive appropriate care. MPRO can conduct appeals at a patient's request and investigate written complaints. Speakers bureau and video program are also available. Eligibility: Medicare beneficiaries, healthcare providers, senior advocates and community acting on the behalf of the Medicare beneficiary. Cost: None MICHIGAN
PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SERVICE, INC. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Services: Mission is to advance the dignity, equality, self-determination and expressed choices of individuals. Promotes, expands and protects the human and legal rights of people through the provision of information and advocacy. Provides information and referral and assistance to groups setting up local advocacy programs. Speakers are available for presentations, trainings & workshops. Publishes quarterly newsletter called "Exchange". Eligibility: Services are generally at no cost. MI QUALITY COMMUNITY CARE COUNCIL (QC3) Home Help Provider Registry 1115 S Pennsylvania, Ste. 203 Lansing, MI 48912 Ph: (517) 999-3130 or Toll free 1-800-979-4662 Email: info@mqccc.org Website: www.mqccc.org Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Services: Helps people who qualify for the Medicaid Home Help Program find workers to assist them. Reference checks & limited criminal history done on all the people on their list. Other information like what languages they speak and what tasks they are willing to do is also gathered. Eligibility/cost: Those people who qualify for the Home Help Program. This service is free for those on the program. MID-MICHIGAN
GUARDIANSHIP Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday with a 24-hour answering service. Services: Non-profit agency providing guardianship, conservatorship and representative services in the mid-Michigan area. Eligibility: Disabled, mentally ill, physically incapacitated or elderly persons who are in need of financial management and or guardianship services. Cost: $55-70.00 per month depending on type of service needed. If unable to pay fees an individual may be eligible for assistance by a contract agency. PUBLIC
SERVICE COMMISSION Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Services: The Commission regulates investor owned natural gas and electric utilities, rural electric cooperatives and some telephone and trucking services. The agency decides formal complaints between a utility company and its customers and responds to questions and concerns from utility customers. Eligibility: Resident of Michigan. Cost: None. SIXTY
PLUS ELDERLAW CLINIC
Services: Legal advice and representation is available for landlord/tenant, consumer problems, public benefit programs (Social Security, SSI, Medicaid, etc.), age discrimination and other legal related services. Estate planning for those with net worth less than $150,000 if single & $250,000/married (not including main residence). Teams of Cooley Law School students who are supervised by licensed attorneys staff the clinic. Home visits can be arranged when necessary. Staff is available for public presentations to senior groups and organizations on substantive legal topics and issues. Spanish speaking staff is also available. Eligibility: Any persons 60 years of age or older and resident of the state of Michigan, primarily in Ingham, Eaton, or Clinton Co. Cost: Donations welcome. Legal
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