By: Scott Solkoff, Elder Law College

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Personal services contracts are a powerful—but frequently misused—tool in Medicaid planning. When structured correctly, they can support family caregiving, preserve eligibility, and create legitimate compensation arrangements. When done poorly, they can trigger transfer penalties, eligibility delays, and post-approval scrutiny.

This Lunch & Learn introduces practitioners to the role personal services contracts play within the broader Medicaid planning framework. The program will cover how these agreements fit into both pre-crisis planning and crisis planning, and why spend-down remains the primary universal strategy once a client is already in need of care.

The session will address:

• How personal services contracts are evaluated by Medicaid agencies

• Medical and financial eligibility requirements that shape planning choices

• Common drafting and implementation mistakes that undermine eligibility

• Practical considerations for documenting care, valuation, and compliance

• How these contracts can support both client outcomes and sustainable law practice models

Designed as a foundational program, this session sets the stage for deeper discussions later in the Lunch & Learn series, giving attorneys the conceptual grounding needed to evaluate when personal services contracts are appropriate—and when they are not.