1. Medical Legal Partnerships in South Carolina
Kirby Mitchell
Senior Litigation Attorney, South Carolina Legal Services and
Dr. Charles Hatcher, III, M.D
Greenville Hospital System
May 16, 2015

2. “There is more to health than healthcare.”
“The goal of healthcare reform is to reform the system. The goal to improve health requires different questions and different answers.”
(Poverty, Health and Law: Edited by: Tyler, Lawton, Conroy, Sandel, and
Zuckerman).

3. SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH(CARE)
Evidence shows ‘vulnerable populations’:
suffer disproportionate share of chronic illness.
do not receive adequate primary care.
experience multiple social conditions that complicate the delivery of high quality healthcare.

4. ‘Legal problems’ are often immediately experienced by the patient /client as health problems……:
Families wrongfully denied food, housing, or income supports.
Children living in substandard housing in violation of housing laws.
Young adults with disabilities are denied disability / educational / health benefits.

5. …..and many of these health problems have legal solutions….:
Social factors influence development & severity of disease.
Inconsistent program implementation results in denials of benefits / services.
Many social factors are remediable by enforcement of existing laws and regulations… but currently aren’t remedied, due to lack of enforcement / resources / etc.

6. ….and thus: Medical - Legal Partnership (MLP)
Build a healthcare team able to identify, treat and prevent health-harming legal needs for patients, clinics, and populations.

7. Please enjoy this obligatory symbolic marriage of law’s scales o’ justice + medicine’s caduceus / rod o’ Asclepius.. = MLP, baby!

8. What is a MLP?
Early doctor + legal aid partnerships can be traced back to the 1960’s.
First true MLP was formed in 1993
Boston Medical Center
Greater Boston Legal Services
Formed to address housing sanitation for children with asthma
“Explosion” of MLPs across U.S. since early 2000’s
Dr. Barry S. Zuckerman, MD (photo below) credited as founder of MLP movement.

9. What is a MLP?
Currently established in 262 healthcare institutions in 36 states.
135 Hospitals
127 Health Centers
35 Health Schools
127 Legal Aid Agencies
46 Law Schools
70 Pro Bono Partners

10. MLP Joint Goals
Provide integrated & collaborative medical & legal care.
Enhance patient access to legal protections and benefits.
Diminish legal barriers to health and promote long-term well-being.

11. Hmmm, interesting… what is the best resource for more MLP information?
National Center for Medical Legal Partnership at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, Washington, D.C. (formed in 2006; at GW since 2013)
Mission: “To mainstream an integrated medical-legal approach to health and health care for people and populations.”

12. What is a MLP?

13. What about our neighbors? Georgia’s MLP…
HEALTHCARE PARTNERS
LEGAL PARTNERS
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta — Egleston, Hughes Spalding & Scottish Rite
Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Emory University School of Law
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Community Clinics
Georgia State University College of Law
Emory University School of Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine

14. …North Carolina’s MLP…
HEALTHCARE PARTNERS
LEGAL PARTNERS
Carolinas Health Care System
Duke University School of Law
Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center and Duke Primary Care for Children
Legal Aid of North Carolina — Charlotte
Legal Aid of North Carolina — Durham
Duke University School of Medicine, Pediatrics Residency Program
Legal Aid of North Carolina — Greensboro
Legal Aid of North Carolina — Winston-Salem
FirstHealth of the Carolinas
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc. — Pittsboro
Guilford Child Health at Wendover, Triad Adult and Pediatric Medicine
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc. — Statewide
Legal Services of Southern Piedmont, Inc.
Lincoln Community Health Center
Pisgah Legal Services
Mission Hospitals
University of North Carolina School of Law Pro Bono Program
North Carolina Children’s Hospital
University of North Carolina, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, NC Cancer Hospital
Wake Forest University School of Law
Wake Forest Baptist Health Downtown Health Plaza
Wake Forest Baptist Health Pediatrics—Winston East
Wake Forest School of Medicine, Pediatric Residency Program
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Western North Carolina Community Health Services

15. …What about a South Carolina MLP. well, we are working on it…
…What about a South Carolina MLP? well, we are working on it… ! 3 possible partners in G’ville… P

16. What about a South Carolina MLP?
Initial possible focus of this pilot GHS-FU-legal aid MLP project:
Families w/adolescents struggling with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)
Our idea: Insure the necessary support is in place and remove the legal barriers for the critical transition of care prior to the age of majority (18)
Guardianship / Conservatorship
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Social Security Disability Insurance/Disabled Adult Child Benefits (SSDI)
Health insurance
Transition health care needs
Child support
Academic support / IEP representation

18. Possible Location for this possible GHS-FU-legal aid pilot MLP project?
Center for Developmental Services (CDS)
Unique partnership linking Upstate at-risk individuals and families with multi-disciplinary services
Clarity
Family Connection
Greenville County Schools
Kidnetics
Wonder Center

19. Location

20. Location

21. Location

22. Thank you to: GHS’s Dr. Nancy Powers, M. D. and Dr. Charles Hatcher, M
Thank you to: GHS’s Dr. Nancy Powers, M.D. and Dr. Charles Hatcher, M.D. for their work on these presentation materials.
Want to talk to someone at GHS about MLP?
Nancy R. Powers, MD, FAAP
Assistant Clinical Professor
Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics
Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center
Greenville Health System
200 Patewood Drive, Greenville, SC 29615
Office: (864)

23. Want to talk to someone at Furman about MLP?
Eli V. Hestermann, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Undergraduate Students and Studies, Greenville Health System
Executive Director of Health Education and Associate Professor of Biology, Furman University, Greenville, SC

24. South Carolina Legal Services
Want to talk to someone at South Carolina Legal Services (SCLS) about MLP?
Andrea E. Loney, Esquire
Executive Director
South Carolina Legal Services
2109 Bull Street
Columbia, SC  29201
(803)
(803) (Fax)

25. Any questions / comments / ideas / suggestions / help about MLPs?
Thank you!
Any questions / comments / ideas / suggestions / help about MLPs?
Kirby Mitchell
Senior Litigation Attorney
South Carolina Legal Services
701 South Main Street
Greenville, SC
(864)