NEW YORK – In partnership with LegalHealth, NYC Health + Hospitals has expanded its free health-related legal services for its patients. The expansion includes increased staffing, capacity building for increased patient access, and data-driven analysis on how legal services can impact patient health.
Patients can access free health-related legal services over the phone or in person at one of twelve brick-and-mortar sites in the health system through a referral by a doctor, social worker, or community health worker.
According to NYC Health + Hospitals, nearly 5,000 patients accessed legal services at NYC Health + Hospitals in 2023. Since its launch in 2002, it has provided free legal assistance to thousands of New Yorkers seeking help with public benefits, immigration, health insurance, planning, and housing, among other legal issues. The medical-legal partnership is funded in part by the New York City Council.
“Having lawyers who can support our clinical teams enables us to comprehensively address difficult issues such as housing instability and immigration, among others. By addressing these issues, we can remove some of the structural barriers that lead to health inequities. This partnership helps to foster healthier individuals, families, and communities across New York City,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Vice President and Chief Population Health Officer Nichola Davis.
Meanwhile, Randye Retkin, Director of NYLAG’s LegalHealth division, aims to increase access at the community level to foster systemic change. The partnership between the two entities brings access directly to patients in the city’s public hospitals.
“Our dedicated team of attorneys and paralegals working together with NYC Health + Hospitals healthcare are professionals are a formidable team in addressing health disparities, and the health system continues to be a steadfast partner in developing innovative approaches to addressing health-harming legal needs,” said Retkin.
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams was proud to invest in expanding free legal services at city public hospitals for New Yorkers. “By offering free legal services for issues related to housing and immigration,” she said, “patients are free to focus solely on their medical recoveries.”
Free onsite legal services are available at the following sites in the health system:
NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania
NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County
NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens
NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
–With Jay Domingo/PDM
