From Patients to Policy
In addition to their focus on individual patient-client service, medical-legal partnerships advocate for systemic change, pushing to promote legislation and public agency policy that favors the health and well-being of patient-families. By addressing systemic barriers that impede access to vital services, medical-legal partnerships target not just the immediate problem, but the source of unmet basic needs.
Success in the policy impact domain depends on the unique, combined voice of medical and legal partners and the compelling clinical experiences of the medical partner making the health case for increased access to resources to meet basic needs for low-income families at the federal, state and local level.
Health Impact Assessments
Regulatory Changes
MLP Systemic Innovations
Health Impact Assessments (HIA)
NCMLP evaluates the health impacts of public policies outside of the traditional health domain, such as utility access and housing subsidies for medically ill low-income people. HIAs offer an objective, evidence- and experience- based method through which to evaluate the implications of policy, regulations, and legislation for health and well-being.
Unhealthy Consequences: Energy Costs & Child Health
Affordable Housing and Child Health
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Regulatory Changes
The Systemic Advocacy Working Group is currently preparing comments on Social Security Administration (SSA) regulations regarding eligibility for SSI benefits for children and adults, and involve physicians in developing the medical standards for making disability determinations.
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MLP Systemic Innovations
In 2007-2008, the Systemic Advocacy Working Group compiled information on systemic innovations from medical-legal partnerships nationwide. The projects were related to:- Legislation / Rulemaking
- Policy Innovations
- Links between clinics and a local, state or federal agency
- Coalition Building
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