Bay Area Estate Attorney Warns of Potential Cuts to Critical Medi-Cal Services
For Immediate Release
Bay Area Estate Attorney Warns of Potential Cuts to Critical Medi-Cal Services
Walnut Creek, California, March 26, 2025 — As federal budget negotiations continue and government efficiency initiatives take hold, estate planning attorney Kirsten Howe raises the alarm about potential threats to Medi-Cal funding that could devastate California’s elderly population and their families.
With skilled nursing facility costs averaging $12,775 per month in the San Francisco Bay Area and in-home care reaching a staggering $30,576 monthly, Medi-Cal is a crucial lifeline for seniors who cannot afford these essential services long-term.
“These aren’t luxury services—they’re basic care needs that many elderly Californians face, costs that few families can sustain for long,” says Howe, founder of Absolute Trust Counsel in Walnut Creek. “Medi-Cal’s intervention allows seniors to remain in their homes, receiving professional care while preserving their dignity and their family’s financial security.”
Howe points to recent congressional budget legislation aimed at reducing taxes and the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as potential threats to this vital program. While eliminating waste and fraud is necessary, Howe advocates for a surgical approach rather than sweeping cuts.
“The responsible way to address inefficiencies is to analyze the programs and their spending carefully and make needed and appropriate changes – to use a scalpel, not a chainsaw,” Howe explains.
Drawing from decades of experience helping elderly clients navigate complex healthcare systems, Howe shares the story of an 82-year-old stroke survivor whose family faced impossible choices before Medi-Cal’s In-Home Supportive Services program intervened. Without this assistance, the family would have quickly depleted their modest retirement savings or attempted to provide complex medical support themselves while maintaining their own jobs and family responsibilities.
Rather than cutting services, Howe advocates for expanding Medi-Cal to cover memory care for dementia patients—a critical gap in the current system that devastates families physically, emotionally, and financially.
“The future of long-term care for our elderly population depends on preserving and strengthening programs like Medi-Cal,” Howe emphasizes. She encourages citizens to contact their elected representatives, share personal stories about Medi-Cal’s impact, and support advocacy organizations protecting healthcare access for vulnerable populations.
About Kirsten Howe
Kirsten Howe is the founder and Managing Attorney of Absolute Trust Counsel, a Walnut Creek-based law firm dedicated exclusively to estate planning, trust administration, probate, Medi-Cal planning, and special needs planning. For more than 26 years, she has helped individuals and families throughout the Bay Area secure their legacies and navigate complex elder law challenges. Howe earned her law degree cum laude from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and is a member of the Trust and Estates Section of The State Bar of California and multiple sections of the Contra Costa County Bar Association.
About Absolute Trust Counsel
Absolute Trust Counsel is a Walnut Creek-based law firm specializing exclusively in California estate law. The firm works daily with seniors, families needing estate planning, those facing probate, and families requiring Medi-Cal planning and nursing home assistance. Absolute Trust Counsel is dedicated to providing personalized legal services that address clients’ most pressing concerns and help them secure their legacies for generations to come.
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