Doctors and lawyers team up to combat asthma triggers caused by mold and pests
Doctors are teaming up with lawyers in medical-legal partnerships to address poor housing conditions that exacerbate asthma in low-income communities. These partnerships, such as the Healthy Together Program at Children's Law Center in Washington, D.C., document health-harming conditions in homes and work with landlords to make repairs. If the landlord doesn't comply, legal interventions are taken to court. Research shows that after legal interventions, children with asthma experience fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Insurers and hospital systems are even subsidizing these legal interventions, recognizing the impact of social needs on overall health.