Medical Debt Advocate

Health Law Advocates•Boston, MA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Medical Debt Advocate will advance HLA's critical mission by working with our attorneys to serve clients struggling with unaffordable medical bills. About one in twenty Massachusetts residents have medical bills in collections, but that burden is not carried evenly. Communities of color have much higher rates of medical debt in collections (6.3%) compared to majority-white communities (3.9%). HLA clients are regularly harmed by unlawful medical debt collection practices. Medical debt causes people to delay needed care and can hurt families' financial health years after incurring the debt. HLA tackles medical debt through a multi-pronged approach: Individual advocacy for people with unaffordable medical bills, Engaging with community-based organizations (CBOs), particularly those primarily serving clients who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), to address medical debt among community members and identify causes of medical debt and other trends, and Collaborating with other advocates to advance a community-informed policy agenda that aims to reduce the causes and consequences of medical debt, as well as ensure private and public enforcement of existing legal protections. The ideal candidate will have strong verbal and written language skills in English and Spanish or Portuguese and have experience working with clients in vulnerable situations who face challenges to accessing public benefits or services.

Requirements

Work independently while contributing effectively as part of a team.
Foster positive, collaborative, and professional relationships with all stakeholders, including colleagues, clients, community partners, health care providers, and external organizations.
Communicate clearly and professionally.
Demonstrate empathy and sensitivity while working directly with clients encountering crises.
Maintain confidentiality and, for attorneys, strict adherence to all professional responsibility requirements for the practice of law.
Demonstrate intellectual curiosity, openness, and the desire and ability to listen and learn.
Embody the values and mission of the organization, including a commitment to decreasing inequity in our health care system and society as a whole.
2+ years of experience in the legal or non-profit space as an advocate, community organizer, social worker, paralegal, or other relevant experience.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
Enthusiasm for public interest advocacy.
Ability to communicate professionally and compassionately with individuals experiencing crisis or financial hardship.
Meticulous organizational and time management skills with the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities.
Strong written and verbal language skills in English, as well as another language.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese is strongly desired, but other languages are also welcome.

Responsibilities

Work with HLA attorneys to advocate for clients with medical debt (50%) Advocate on behalf of clients, under the supervision of HLA attorneys, with medical providers and collection agencies to reduce or eliminate unaffordable medical bills.
Assist clients with obtaining/maintaining health insurance coverage, as well as submitting financial assistance applications with medical providers.
Investigate client matters and determine advocacy strategy in collaboration with HLA attorneys.
Update and manage case files accurately and in a timely manner.
Project management, community engagement, training, and policy advocacy (45%) Support Medical Debt Initiative: Contribute to agenda-setting, facilitate and/or present, and taking notes during internal and external meetings;
Provide technical assistance and mentorship to coaches at community organizations who are helping their clients address unaffordable medical bills;
Collaborate with HLA attorneys and other staff to set, review, and pursue project goals;
Track and review medical debt data across cases, help to improve systems for collecting and analyzing medical debt data, and assist with data reporting to funders and other stakeholders;
Collaborate with HLA attorneys to deliver medical debt trainings and outreach presentations for community organizations, consumers, providers, advocates, and others.
Participate in advocacy for policies that reduce medical debt.
Identify patterns of problems across cases and participate in strategy development with the HLA team and partner organizations.
Attend coalition and advocacy meetings with state agencies and provider organizations, as needed.
Aid in developing testimony or other input to government leaders on public policy reforms, especially those related to medical debt.
Administrative support and internal engagement (5%) Provide general administrative support of supplies, mail, scanning, and coordination with in-office staff.
Collaborate with and support intake paralegals regarding medical debt cases.
Assist with hiring, onboarding, and training new HLA staff.
Participate in HLA efforts to improve our organization's internal and external practices and procedures such as efforts to ensure a welcoming, equitable, and inclusive workplace.

Benefits

401(k) or Roth 401(k) retirement plans with a variable employer contribution.
Medical Insurance HMO and PPO Options with a generous employer contribution.
Dental and Vision Insurance
20 vacation days per year
3 personal days per year
15 sick days per year
12 paid holidays per year
1 birthday day per year
3 volunteer days per year
Medical and Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Life insurance at 2x your salary with a maximum of $400,000.
Long-term disability benefit that covers 60% of salary after 90 days of disability
Outside Health Insurance Reimbursement
Fitness Reimbursement
Up to 12 weeks of protected leave to bond with your new child