2018 Associates Campaign: Protecting Colorado’s Most Vulnerable, 0318 COBJ, Vol. 47, No. 3 Pg. 62
| Author | GINA L. TINCHER, J. |
| Position | Vol. 47, 3 [Page 62] |
BAR NEWS HIGHLIGHT
GINA L. TINCHER, J.
The Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado (LAF) kicks of its 14th Annual Associates Campaign on March 1, 2018. During this month-long campaign, young lawyers will lead efforts in a friendly competition to raise funds for Colorado Legal Services (CLS), the only agency in the state that offers free civil legal services to indigent and underserved populations in every single county. If your firm did not participate last year, there is still time to sign up for the 2018 Associates Campaign by contacting Kelly Bossley, associate director of LAF, at (303) 863-9544 or kelly@ legalaidfoundation.org. Donations can also be made to LAF by visiting legalaidfoundation.org and selecting “Donate Now.” The funds raised through the Associates Campaign and by LAF throughout the year are critical to helping CLS continue its work of providing free legal services to thousands of Coloradans who would otherwise be unable to afford legal representation. The case study below highlights this important work.
Protecting the Elderly: A Case Study
“One of the best measures of a country is how it treats its older citizens.”
—President Barack Obama1
Peter Komlos-Hrobsky, supervising attorney of CLS’s Health and Elder Law Unit, has seen firsthand how the Associates Campaign helps protect Colorado’s elderly. Now in his 27th year at CLS, Komlos-Hrobsky has spent a significant part of his career helping senior citizens navigate the often-complex world of public benefits like Medicare. His work, and that of the other CLS attorneys, ensures that citizens like Gloria Lang, a 79-year-old Denver resident, have a knowledgeable advocate in their corner and aren’t forced to navigate our complex legal system alone.
In June 2013, Lang found herself in the hospital after passing out and falling in her home. After being treated in the emergency room, she was admitted to the hospital. She was discharged two days later and spent the next 39 days in a rehabilitation facility. After returning home, Lang received a $23,000 bill for her post-hospitalization rehabilitation services. Lang then discovered that her medical treatment in the hospital had been coded as outpatient “observation services,” which meant she would be responsible for paying for her...
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