More than 300 hospitals around the country have found lawyers to be the most valuable new addition to the care team, according to a report from PBS NewsHour. They can even help patients improve their blood pressure.
Kerry Rodabaugh, MD, a gynecological oncologist with Omaha-based Nebraska Medicine who uses medical-legal partnerships told PBS, "We are learning that we really are impacting health. So, if we can get somebody reinstated with their insurance plan, then they're going to be able to afford to take their anti-hypertension medication and their blood pressure's going to be improved. And who would've thought of that — that an attorney's going to fix somebody's blood pressure?"
Hospitals have found medical-legal partnerships allow physicians to go one step further in improving patients' health. Instead of just recommending a patient move to a healthier home, or enroll in insurance, or write a will before dying, attorneys can help patients make sure these tasks happen.
The programs not only help patients, but they may be able to help address costs. Nebraska Medicine, one of about 300 programs around the country, now spends about $200,000 annual to Legal Aid of Nebraska, but has recovered roughly $2 million from payers in contested reimbursements, according to the report.
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