D.C. BAR PRO BONO PROGRAM Health Care Access Project

With

The George Washington University Law School Jacob Burns Community Legal Clinics Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia Legal Counsel for the Elderly And D.C. Bar Antitrust & Consumer Law Section

Present Health Care Access Project Training For Pro Bono Attorneys February 9, 2009 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. D.C. Bar 1250 H St., NW, Level B-1 (Metro Center)

In 2007, 53 percent of adults in the U.S. between the ages of 19 and 64 reported a problem with medical bills or debt during the previous year. Sixty-four percent reported some problem obtaining coverage from their insurance company. And, nearly a third said that they were unable to pay for basic necessities— food, heat, or rent—because of medical debt. (Losing Ground: How the Loss of Adequate Health Insurance is Burdening Working Families, Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Surveys, 2001-2007 (August 2008))

Medical debt and difficulty accessing care because of pre-approval requirements can have devastating consequences for low-income individuals’ health and finances. Wage garnishments jeopardize consumers’ ability to pay for rent, utilities, food, and other essential items. A treatable condition may become disabling or life-threatening when consumers cannot access care.

This training will cover advocacy strategies for consumers with no health insurance, public health benefits or private insurance who have medical debt and/or are being denied insurance coverage for treatment; enforcing consumer protections under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act; and determining when bankruptcy may be a consumer’s best option. The training prepares attorneys to handle cases through the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program Health Care Access Project.

Training is appropriate for attorneys and attorney/paralegal teams (paralegals must attend with an attorney). Attorneys must be admitted to practice in D.C., have an application pending to be admitted to practice in D.C. or be a government employee authorized to Practice under Rule 49.

Cost: $25 for attorneys; $15 for paralegals

Registration: Online at www.dcbar.org/probono, or complete and send the registration form below with payment.

Training participants must agree to accept two pro bono referrals from one of the sponsoring organizations.* Please note that pro bono training sessions are not MCLE-accredited.

752278 ------REGISTRATION FORM------No phone reservations will be accepted.*

Send to: Or Fax to: 202-942-9752 (secure line) Health Care Access Training Credit card payments only. D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program Must be received at least 24 hours prior 1250 H Street NW, 6th Floor to event. Washington, DC 20005-5937

Please reserve _____ space(s). Enclosed is my payment of ______.

Method of payment: [ ] Check made payable to the D.C. Bar. Check No. ______

[ ] MC [ ] VISA Credit Card Acct. No. ______Exp. ______

Name ______Bar No. and State: ______Address ______City/State/Zip ______Phone No. ______email ______

If you require a physical accommodation or have questions, please contact the Pro Bono Program at 202-737-4700, ext. 405.

*For complete pro bono training program policies, please visit www.dcbar.org/probono.

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