Medical-Legal Partnerships for Immigrants: Helping Immigrant Patients Access Healthcare in Massachusetts

Historically, the climate of fear within low-income immigrant communities and the uncertainty around healthcare benefits have deterred immigrants from seeking medical care. Anxiety over immigration status and other socioeconomic barriers contribute to poorer health outcomes among those in the immigrant community. Medical-legal partnerships for immigrants (MLPIs) are designed to address these health disparities. By connecting immigrant patients with immigration and health law attorneys, medical institutions have noted improved access to health care and health outcomes. This training aims to provide an overview of some of the most common types of immigration issues that arise in the MLP context, and how pursuing appropriate immigration pathways can in turn allow patients to qualify for more comprehensive health care coverage. The program aims to empower attorneys to explore these types of partnerships for themselves, thereby playing a pivotal role in improving access to health care in vulnerable communities through legal representation, community outreach, and policy advocacy. 

Questions? Inquiries about program materials? Contact Trenon Browne at tbrowne@bostonbar.org