Valerie A. Powers

With thirteen years of experience in the field of special needs and disability law, Valerie A. Powers Smith, Esq. brings to Slovak Baron & Empey, LLP the following highly specialized practice areas: health care insurance, disability insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, special needs trusts, trust administration, estate planning & administration, guardianships, and accessing federal and state government disability-based benefits.

Over this time, Valerie has concentrated her legal work in the area of health care law and has vigorously advocated for families and people with disabilities to gain medically necessary care from private insurance companies, Medicaid, Medicare, and other health insurance providers. She has additionally focused her practice in the areas of special needs trusts and estate planning and routinely advise families, executors, and trustees on the area of special needs law and the administration of the same.

Valerie has written extensively on a variety of disability law topics, has co-authored several publications on accessing adult services, Medicaid, and health insurance; and is a regular contributor to the Arc of New Jersey's Healthy Times Newsletter. She has also lectured for disability-related groups throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and D.C. Valerie currently sits as one of the 12 members appointed by the Governor to the New Jersey Medical Assistance Advisory Council and is serving her second three-year term. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for Easter Seals of Southeastern Pennsylvania and Caregivers of New Jersey; and an Advisory Board member of Family Voices New Jersey & Autism Family Services of New Jersey. On the national level, Valerie also serves as a legal consultant for MITO ACTION; and is on the legal advisory board for the Turner Syndrome Foundation, Inc. Valerie was recently appointed to the Board of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Mercer.

Valerie can be contacted at the above NJ & CA addresses or via email at powers@sbelawyers.com.