Life Care Plans

Life Care Plans by nature are living instruments, and typically require updating as the nature of an individual's medical condition changes.





As a Certified Life Care Planner, and member of the IARP-IALCP, Mr. Karras adheres to those standards. In every matter, Mr. Karras prepares a comprehensive and balanced Life Care Plan based on following:

In-depth Analysis of Medical, Educational and Employment Records: Mr. Karras' background and intangible experiences from working as a practicing Occupational Therapist enhance his ability to spot subtleties in the records that can profoundly affect the outcomes for both plaintiffs and defense.

Site Visits and Client Interviews: Mr. Karras believes it is important, when possible, to make a site visit. This enables Mr. Karras to better understand the individual's surroundings so that he can make a precise assessment of the individual's environment, identifying areas where improvements for quality of life and safety should be made, or where services or equipment are not warranted or no longer beneficial.

Family & Caregiver Interviews: Often, family members and caregivers substantiate recommendations, services, equipment, medications and supplies and other tangibles to be included or excluded within a Life Care Plan.

Thorough interviews with treating physicians, specialists and various rehabilitative personnel to determine the short-term and long-term medical and rehabilitative needs and associated costs.

Mr. Karras prepares Life Care Plans for individuals from all age groups and socio-economic backgrounds for a wide spectrum of injuries, diseases, medical conditions and illnesses, including but not limited to:

• Alzheimer's
• Amputations & Vascular Complications
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Birth Related Injuries
• Blood Disorders
• Bowel or Bladder Injuries or Dysfunction
• Brain Injuries-anoxia, hypoxia, infarct, hemorrhage or traumatic
• Cancer
• Cardiac –Respiratory Arrest
• Chronic Pain & Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
• Crush Injuries
• Diabetes and complications thereof
• Epilepsy
• Exposure to Toxins
• Hearing Loss or Impairment
• Inhalation Injuries
• Organ Failure or Transplantation
• Orthopaedic Injuries
• Paralysis and Neurologic Injuries, including Stroke
• Psychiatric Disorders
• Severe Burns
• Sexual Dysfunction
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Visual loss or Impairment

Mr. Karras routinely prepares critiques or rebuttals of opposing counsel's Life Care Plans, as well as prepares joint Life Care Plans when called upon by both Plaintiff and Defense Counsel.

Medical Cost Projections

Mr. Karras and his staff conduct research to determine the costs of medical, psychiatric/psychological and rehabilitative services; durable medical equipment, prosthetic devices and transportation services specific to an individual's geographic location, and prepare reports and cost estimates for not only setting reserves for workers' compensation and liability claims, but also for workers' compensation, and other personal injury liability claims settlements.

Case Management for Serious and Catastrophic Injuries

As a Certified Case Manager, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and holder of certification in Continuing Engineering/Ergonomics, Mr. Karras:

Orchestrates team conferences, and interactions with physicians, specialists, rehabilitative a therapeutic professional to accurately assess and confirm the extent of chronic illnesses, catastrophic and severe injures leading to the coordination of appropriate medical care and services to enhance the function, recovery and return to the community.

Provides assistance to individuals and to their family members by recommending appropriate home care and placement facilities to meet personalized needs; connecting the injured and their families with resources that may be available to the catastrophically injured or chronically ill.

Develops work accommodation and ergonomic redesign for those with debilitating and catastrophic injuries, ensuring compliance with ADA and applicable workers' compensation statutes.

Assists his corporate clients, including insurance companies and third-party insureds navigate a myriad of Federal and State regulations, including the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) through the development of compliance and training programs for human resources personnel, risk benefit coordinators, insurance personnel, and physicians.

Assists individuals with physical disabilities and their families by connecting them to resources for accommodations and ergonomic redesign in the home including, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and living areas and finding assistive equipment and transportation/mobility services.

Providing litigation oversight in workers' compensation and general liability claims for global corporations and small self-insureds.

Medicare Set - Aside Cost Comparisons

The rules pertaining to the regulation of Medicare programs and Social Security are always changing, and navigating them can be difficult and frustrating. However, knowing Medicare Set-Aside requirements before you settle a case or bring it to trial is crucial. Failure to do so can have negative consequences; paying hefty fines and penalties and the possibility that your client may lose Medicare benefits. As a certified Medicare Set-Aside Consultant, Mr. Karras is able to aid attorneys in the navigation of those channels of rules and regulations before settlement negotiations begin or trial is scheduled.

Service Coordination and Oversite for Special Need Trusts

Mr. Karras is available to Elder Law attorneys, financial planners and Trust Attorneys whose clients may have debilitating and chronic illness or disabilities, and require assistance with Life Care Planning and locating services and living facilities for their clients.