MLP Issue Brief: Financial Benefit
Medical-legal partnerships (MLP) integrate the unique expertise of attorneys into healthcare settings to help clinicians, case managers, and social workers address social and structural issues at the root of many health inequities. An investment in MLP not only demonstrates a commitment to comprehensive care and health equity, but it can also yield many kinds of benefits, including helping prevent hospital admissions, reducing days of hospitalization, appealing insurance denials, and collecting revenue. Some of these results will yield financial benefit. We define the term “financial benefit” as the costs avoided and revenue collected for healthcare institutions as a result of MLP interventions, acknowledging the complex collaboration of many other hospital advocates in patient care.
The Washington Medical-Legal Partnership worked with hospital colleagues who lent their expertise to the difficult task of determining the impact and then ascribing a dollar amount to the results of legal interventions. The purpose of this report is to illustrate how Washington MLP’s interventions have benefited Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Link to the full article (PDF).
“Our mission is to promote better health outcomes by addressing the legal and social needs of patients and families.”
- MLP By the Numbers
- MLP in the News
- MLP Issue Brief: Financial Benefit
Pro Bono
The Washington Medical-Legal Partnership’s goal is to extend its reach to patients and families who may otherwise have no access to the legal system.
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Your tax-deductible donation of any amount helps fuel our programs. Please specify Washington Medical-Legal Partnership in the ‘Other’ field.
- WA MLP White Paper: An Analysis of Financial Benefit to Seattle Children’s Hospital, FY 2015-2017 (PDF)
- MLPC Evaluation Report (PDF)
A summary of findings from years one through three. Written by University of Washington School of Social Work; Kate Grossman, M.S.
- A Conversation Between Attorneys and Pediatricians (PDF)
A Q&A summary of a conversation between attorneys at Northwest Justice Project in Seattle and local Pediatricians, Dr. Ben Danielson and Dr. Brian Johnston addressing how the two professions can work together to address unmet legal needs of patients and families.
- MLP Stakeholder Matrix (DOC)
To build effective coalitions to address social determinants of health, it is critical to understand the current and potential role of community stakeholders from different sectors of society (e.g., government, political, civil society, commercial). The matrix is a tool that you can use to discuss and document the roles of key stakeholders in your community.
- WashingtonLawHelp.org
Free legal information and self-help materials that provide information about non criminal legal problems affecting low-income people in Washington state.
Medical + Legal Resources
Direct Legal Assistance
Since 2008, more than 1,440 families (4,600 individuals) benefited from legal intervention to enforce basic human rights, improve health and prevent future health problems. Based in Seattle, Washington, the MLP assists with housing, public benefits, education, immigration, consumer protection, family law and more. Depending on the case, MLP attorneys offer advice and counsel all the way to direct representation.
*This graphic portrays widespread provider feedback about how MLP has freed up their time by managing patient legal needs.
- MLP Stakeholder Matrix (DOC)
To build effective coalitions to address social determinants of health, it is critical to understand the current and potential role of community stakeholders from different sectors of society (e.g., government, political, civil society, commercial). The matrix is a tool that you can use to discuss and document the roles of key stakeholders in your community.
- WashingtonLawHelp.org
Free legal information and self-help materials that provide information about non criminal legal problems affecting low-income people in Washington state.
- WA MLP White Paper: An Analysis of Financial Benefit to Seattle Children’s Hospital, FY 2015-2017 (PDF)
- MLPC Evaluation Report (PDF)
A summary of findings from years one through three. Written by University of Washington School of Social Work; Kate Grossman, M.S.
- A Conversation Between Attorneys and Pediatricians (PDF)
A Q&A summary of a conversation between attorneys at Northwest Justice Project in Seattle and local Pediatricians, Dr. Ben Danielson and Dr. Brian Johnston addressing how the two professions can work together to address unmet legal needs of patients and families.
Thank you! Below are the links to the legal templates.
Youth Law & Education
Special Services – Letter To Parents
Special Services – Letter to Schools
Government Benefits
Medical Necessity – General
Medical Necessity – Prescription Medication
Medical Necessity – Durable Medical Equipment
Social Security Advocacy Example Letters
Housing
Reasonable Accommodation for Persons with Disabilities
Landlord-Tenant Notice of Repairs Needed
Utilities Shut-Off
These have been reviewed and are current as of August 2018.