Medical Legal Partnerships (MLP) in a Hospital Setting PRISCILLA KEITH, JD, MS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK OFFICE OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT RAKUYA K. TRICE, JD MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP LAWYER COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK-INDIANA LEGAL SERVICES, INC.
What are MLPs and why are they needed? Photo by rawpixel.
What is a Medical Legal Partnership? A medical legal partnership (also known as a MLP) is an agreement between a health care organization and a legal services provider for the legal services provider to provide legal services to patients of the health care organization. The purpose of a medical legal partnership is to improve health outcomes for patients through the provision of legal services.
How does a MLP improve patient outcomes? Research shows that 60% of a patient s health is determined by social and environmental factors alone.* Thesefactors areknownassocialdeterminantsofhealthorsdohs. Social determinants of health and environmental factors known to impact a patient s health include: Sufficient income to meet basic needs Access to health care Access to enough healthy food Access to clean, stable housing Access to quality education Job Stability Personal Safety *Source: National Center for Medical Legal Partnership, http://medicallegalpartnership.org/need/. Last accessed 7/15/2018.
How does a MLP improve patient outcomes? (cont d) The MLP focuses on legal issues related to the social and environmental determinants of health and uses legal remedies to eliminate or reduce the negative impact social and environmental factors have on patients health outcomes.
How does a MLP improve patient outcomes (cont d) People with chronic illnesses are admitted to the hospital less frequently. People more commonly take their medications as prescribed. People report less stress and experience improvements in mental health. *Source: National Center for Medical Legal Partnership, http://medicallegalpartnership.org/impact/. Last accessed 7/15/2018.
How does a MLP improve patient outcomes (cont d) Less money is spent on health care services for the people who would otherwise frequently go to the hospital, and use of preventative health care increases. Clinical services are more frequently reimbursed by public and private payers. *Source: National Center for Medical Legal Partnership, http://http://medicallegalpartnership.org/impact/. Last accessed 7/15/2018.
How has the CHNw MLP helped patients since it began taking referrals in June 2017? -The MLP has helped patient-clients avoid homelessness. -The MLP has helped patient-clients expunge arrests that were preventing patients from obtaining housing and employment. -The MLP has assisted patient-clients with enforcing their right to rental conditions free of vermin. -The MLP has helped patient-clients with minor children put plans in place for a transition of care should the patient die before their children reach the age of majority. -The MLP has helped patient-clients with lingering debts, including helping obtain a discharge of student loans that often prevent patient-clients from being able to meet their basic needs.
Why place a MLP in a hospital setting? Photo by rawpixel.
Meeting patients where they are The MLP lawyer in a hospital setting becomes part of the patient s treatment team. The hospital setting provides an opportunity to immediately have contact with the patient and assess the patient s civil legal issue.
Meeting patients where they are (cont d) The patient may have an issue that cannot wait until the patient is released from the hospital. The setting allows the lawyer to start working on the patient s issue without the delay that comes with waiting for the patient to be released and re-acclimated to his or her home before the patient has contact with the lawyer.
Meeting patients where they are (cont d) The relationship and trust building that comes with an attorney-client relationship starts right away. The MLP lawyer is immediately aware of limitations the patient-client may have and can build the patient-client s case plan accordingly.
Approaching a hospital network about starting a MLP Photo by rawpixel.
Answering the Why? and the How? Questions from a Hospital s Perspective
Why our hospital? The community the hospital serves has a high percentage of community members who have income, housing, and family stability issues. The community the hospital serves has a high percentage of community members who suffer from food insecurity. The community the hospital serves has a high percentage of community members who utilize the emergency room for health conditions that are being aggravated by conditions in their homes. While the hospital is able to provide health treatment, the community members health will continue to be negatively impacted by the condition of the rental homes in the community.
How do we bring a MLP to our hospital? Consider how you would fund a MLP. Identify a legal services provider with whom you would like to partner. Work with the legal services provider to reach a memorandum of understanding regarding the services to be provided.
Questions?
Thank you for attending our session.