Health Law Advocates, Inc. Announces New Executive Director

Press Release | September 17, 2009

Boston - September, 17, 2009
Health Law Advocates (HLA) is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Executive Director, Matt Selig.  Matt has been a valued team member of HLA for the past four and half years.  Matt has served as HLA's Deputy Director beginning in March 2008 and has demonstrated strong leadership as HLA's Acting Director for the past four months.
 
Matt's appointment comes at a challenging time for HLA's clients.  Health Law Advocates provides free legal assistance to hundreds of Massachusetts families each year.  Working with its parent organization, Health Care For All, HLA combines legal expertise with grassroots organizing and policy reform to advance the statewide movement for universal health care access.
 
"Health Law Advocates' mission is critical at this point in time. The state of our economy is leading to widespread disruptions in health insurance coverage for tens of thousands of individuals and families in our Commonwealth who have lost insurance from an employer or depend on public programs. Even those with insurance are facing denials of coverage and huge medical bills.  Many of these people are being unjustly denied health care and cannot afford a lawyer to represent them," said Selig. "I am honored to have the confidence of the Board and been extended the privilege of becoming the new Executive Director of HLA. We are very fortunate to have an outstanding staff and loyal and generous financial supporters. I am very much looking forward to continuing to work with all of them in this new role."
 
The search committee interviewed outstanding candidates from across the country for the position.   "Matt's deep knowledge and understanding of state and federal health care law is a tremendous asset to the organization. His long standing commitment as an advocate, combined with his vision for the mission of HLA, will successfully move us forward into the next phase of our work," said Board President Dan Jackson.
 
Matt's commitment to increasing health care access stretches back to the beginning of his legal career. After graduating from Washington University in Saint Louis in December 1991, Matt worked as a staff assistant for Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources.  He left Senator Kennedy's office to attend Suffolk University Law School, where he graduated with honors in 1997. In 1998, he began working as a legislative aide to State Representative Kay Khan (D- Newton), where he remained for six years until joining HLA in January 2005.  At HLA, Matt has represented hundreds of low-income Massachusetts residents who were denied health care access.

"Matt's promotion is a great step for Health Law Advocates and insures that the organization will continue its important work in this increasingly challenging environment.  I am excited to work with Matt and support him as he leads HLA to the next level of success," said Amy Whitcomb Slemmer, Executive Director of Health Care For All. "Matt is a fearless and driven lawyer who is committed to helping poor and low-income residents surmount barriers to health care. I offer my sincere congratulations to Matt and to Health Law Advocates."