I.
Name of Grant
Program: Civil Legal Assistance to Families of Indigent Patients
Program (Short name: Medical-Legal Partnerships Program).
II.
Legal Authority:
O.C.G.A. §
15-5-24 and Supreme Court of
Georgia Order of January 15, 1981 relating to the duties of the Judicial
Council/Administrative Office of the Courts.
III.
Definition:
This is a statewide program designed to provide civil legal services to
indigent hospitalized patients, particularly medically fragile children, and
their caregivers.
IV.
Scope: According to the National Center for
Medical-Legal Partnerships (2020), about 60% of a person's health is determined
by social factors, including household income, education, employment, and
family stability. Georgia ranks 38th in the nation in child and family
well-being, according to the 2021 Kids Count Data Book
.
According to the American Health Rankings' state findings for 2021, the overall
health outcomes for children in Georgia ranked 33rd in the nation, with
socioeconomic factors (38th in the nation), economic resources
(44
th in the nation), and children in poverty
(33
rd in the nation) being significant factors for
poor outcomes. Similarly, a 2018 report from Voices for Georgia's Children
regarding barriers to healthcare stated that Georgia had the 7th highest rate
for uninsured children and determined that the key barriers to healthcare that
children faced were poverty, health literacy, and system navigation.
Patients with access to medical-legal partnerships see
improvements in health outcomes, reductions in healthcare expenditures, and
increased access to government benefits. An analysis of clients served by
Georgia's Health Law Partnership (HeLP) from 2006 to 2018 found that, through
the program, 657 children with neurodevelopmental disabilities were able to
have their legal concerns addressed and obtained and retained benefits
exceeding 4.9 million; these services also resulted in improved access to
education resources, as well as short- and long-term financial cost savings for
both families and the healthcare system. Studies around the country have found
similar results.
V.
Purpose: The purpose of this program is to support
civil legal services for patients and families with low incomes who are being
treated at Georgia hospitals through Medical-Legal Partnerships. Medical-Legal
Partnerships (MLPs) combine the health care expertise of hospital professionals
with the legal expertise of attorneys to reduce health disparities and address
social determinants of health. Lawyers are embedded in hospitals to facilitate
seamless access to both healthcare and legal assistance; MLPs foster
collaboration between healthcare and legal professionals, improve health
outcomes for patients, and result in lower costs to hospitals as a result of
uncompensated care and Medicare readmission penalties.
VI.
Grant Specifics:
A. Eligible Services: This program focuses on
serving indigent patients and their caregivers by providing funds to non-profit
organizations for attorneys to support medical-legal partnerships (MLPs), which
combine the health care expertise of hospital professionals with the legal
expertise of attorneys to improve the health of patients in Georgia.
B. Excluded Services: Certain services are
specifically excluded from this program to include the following:
1. Class action suits;
2. Criminal defense;
3. Deportation proceedings;
4. Juvenile delinquency;
5. Indirect legal services such as attorney
training;
6. Matters to be
adjudicated in courts outside of Georgia; and
7. Other proceedings not related to client
safety, stability, or economic security.
C. Eligible Clients: Patients and caregivers
in need of civil legal service and whose income does not exceed 200% of federal
poverty guidelines.
D. Eligible
Grantees:
1. Eligible grantees must be
non-profit organizations registered and in good standing with the State of
Georgia with demonstrated experience providing civil legal services.
2. Recipients must also demonstrate they have
the personnel and expertise necessary to deliver the services required, that
their service delivery structure can adequately provide coverage throughout the
geographical area for which the services are proposed, and that they have
sufficient administrative recordkeeping capabilities to fulfill reporting
requirements necessary for the evaluation of their grant services.
3. Community partnerships are critical to
achieving success with this program. The applicants must show broad community
support and the support and cooperation of local hospitals and other
health-related service providers. Letters of support or other evidence
establishing these relationships should accompany applications.
VII.
General Terms and Conditions: Grants will be awarded
for a one-year term. The amount of funds available for distribution to grantees
may change each year based on the amount of funds appropriated to the Judicial
Council/Administrative Office of the Courts and the cost of the administrative
oversight of these funds. The grant awards are generally announced in July.
Grantees will be required to report to the Judicial
Council/Administrative Office of the Courts every six months detailing how the
grant funds were specifically used to assist patients and their caregivers
throughout Georgia.
VIII.
Criteria for the Award of Grants:
A. Grants shall be awarded to eligible
providers as defined in VI.D.1.
B.
Preference will be given to providers with experience delivering medical-legal
partnership services.
C. Preference
will be given to proposals including documented commitments from local partners
for the contribution of resources (fiscal or in kind) to the
proposal.
D. Preference will be
given to proposals connected to healthcare providers serving populations with
higher rates of indigency/poverty.
E. Allocation of grants will seek to maximize
the return to state government, local government, and clients.
IX.
Directions and
Deadlines for Application: Applications for grant funds
must
be submitted via email to the Judicial Council/Administrative Office of
the Courts at grants@georgiacourts.gov.
Comments may be submitted to the Judicial
Council/Administrative Office of the Courts at grants@georgiacourts.gov or
(404) 656-5171.