Legal Services/Other Professional Services
HRSA Service Definition
Description:
Other Professional Services allow for the provision of professional and consultant services rendered by members of particular professions licensed and/or qualified to offer such services by local governing authorities. Such services may include:
- Legal services provided to and/or on behalf of the individual living with HIV and involving legal matters related to or arising from their HIV disease, including:
- Assistance with public benefits such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- Interventions necessary to ensure access to eligible benefits, including discrimination or breach of confidentiality litigation as it relates to services eligible for funding under the RWHAP
- Preparation of: healthcare power of attorney, durable powers of attorney, living wills
- Permanency planning to help clients/families make decisions about the placement and care of minor children after their parents/caregivers are deceased or are no longer able to care for them, including:
- Social service counseling or legal counsel regarding the drafting of wills or delegating powers of attorney
- Preparation for custody options for legal dependents including standby guardianship, joint custody, or adoption
- Income tax preparation services to assist clients in filing Federal tax returns that are required by the Affordable Care Act for all individuals receiving premium tax credits
Program Guidance:
Legal services exclude criminal defense and class-action suits unless related to access to services eligible for funding under the RWHAP.
See 45 CFR § 75.459
Number of Clients Served, Units Provided, Expenditures, Allocation, and Over/Under-spending
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Clients | 1,089 | 1,119 | 1,258 | 1,103 | 783 | 756 | 765 |
| Legal Units (15 min) | 23,861 | 24,939 | 21,444 | 36,972 | 19,812 | 17,561 | 18,476 |
| Legal Dollars | $432,950 | $410,779 | $432,393 | $580,520 | $401,480 | $424,949 | $413,577 |
| Allocated Dollars | $398,678 | $408,608 | $402,393 | $404,342 | $401,479 | $401,473 | $402,431 |
| Over /Underspending | $34,272 over | $2,171 over | $30,000 over | $176,178 over | $1 over | $23,476 over | $11,146 over |
Funding by Part, and info on any other payers
| Total Part A Funds (Formula + Supp.) | MAI | Total Part B Funds (Formula + Supp. NJ) | Total Part B Funds (Formula + Supp. PA) | Total Part C EIS Funds (State & Local) | Total Part D Funds (State & Local) | Total Part F Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Last Year Allocation | $402,432 | $122,868 | |||||
| Current Allocation | $399,270 |
Consumer survey info 2017 n=392
| n | Used in the last 12 months | Needed but did not get (last 12 months) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal/Other Professional Services | 118 | 58.5% | 41.5% |
Community Survey 2022 Service Responses n=236
| I never personally needed this service | I needed this service and received it | I needed but did not get this service | I never heard of this service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal/Other Professional Services | 36.86% | 24,58% | 11.44% | 2.54% |
Unmet need
For the purposes of this document, need is based on the response of a consumer when asked if there was a service they needed. MMP interviews patients in care and asks consumers if they need a service and if they receive it. Client services unit data identifies needs at the time of initial intake.
| 2015-18 MMP Percent with a Need | 2021 Client Services Unit Need at Intake | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal/Other Professional Services | 10.6% | 5.7% |
Recipient Service Considerations
Legal/Other Professional Services
In FY 2022, clients in this service category stayed relatively stable with 9 (1.2%) additional clients accessing Legal Services. Service units increased by 915 (5.2%). Meanwhile, expenditures fell by 2.7%.
The biggest increase in units was in services provided in New Jersey. This is due to limited resources in NJ, as a result, clients must access legal services more often.