December 2011

Dear HLA Friends:

Executive Director Matt Selig

On behalf of all of us at Health Law Advocates and those we serve, I extend our sincere thanks for the wonderful support given by so many good friends and generous sponsors to our recent 16th Annual Benefit Breakfast.

The support derived from the Breakfast (which exceeded our goal!) will make it possible for us to continue to advocate for health care justice for the most vulnerable members of our society.  Our free legal services for low-income individuals and families who are improperly denied access to life-sustaining health care or burdened with unaffordable medical bills here in Massachusetts are only possible because of you.

The Breakfast was a wonderful event and the turnout surpassed even our high expectations.  Congressman Patrick Kennedy's passionate keynote speech underscored why HLA's services are so critical at this time. Despite legislative victories to improve access to health care, many low-income Massachusetts residents still have great difficulty accessing and paying for the health care they need.  

We are very grateful to Patrick Kennedy for supporting HLA and we look forward to continued collaborations with him as he builds his impressive One Mind for Research initiative. We also owe special thanks to our stellar Breakfast co-chairs Brent Henry and Dean Richlin for their tireless efforts over the past six months to make the event a success.

In this holiday season, we extend our sincere appreciation for your generosity and warmest holiday wishes to you. 

With appreciation,

Matt Selig

Patrick Kennedy addresses the audience.

Nearly 900 of HLA's friends and their guests gathered in the Grand Ballroom at the Sheraton Boston on Wednesday, November 9 to enjoy HLA's 16th Annual Benefit Breakfast. HLA's "Sweet Sixteen" celebration was one to remember as our guests arrived early for networking followed by a program that featured the wonderful musical talents of Sheena Melawi, a powerful film on HLA's work by Tira Khan, a moving message from HLA client Susan Breen about how HLA helped her obtain insurance coverage for treatment for a recurring brain tumor, and a dynamic keynote address by Patrick Kennedy.

L-R: Event co-chairs Dean Richlin and Brent Henry, Health Care For All Executive Director Amy Whitcomb Slemmer, HLA Executive Director Matt Selig, and Patrick Kennedy

Before leaving Congress in January 2010, Kennedy authored the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 which requires health insurers to provide non-discriminatory coverage for mental health and addiction treatment.  

In January, Mala M. Rafik will assume the duties of President of HLA's Board of Directors, succeeding current president Dan Jackson. Mala is a partner at Rosenfeld Rafik & Sullivan, P.C., a Boston-based law firm representing clients throughout New England who have been denied short- and long-term disability benefits by private insurance carriers.  The firm also concentrates on obtaining health, life, long-term care and Social Security disability insurance benefits for its clients. 

Mala's clients are typically individuals with debilitating chronic illnesses and disabilities for whom she has achieved several pivotal litigation victories in state and federal court.  She is the Chair of the Health and Disability Law General Committee within the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, the Chair-Elect of the Insurance Law Section of the American Association for Justice, a former member of the Boston Bar Association Council, a member of the Mentoring and Legal Referral Services Committees of the Boston Bar Association, and a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm Section Council. 

She also serves on the boards of  Massachusetts Advocates for Children and Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services.  Mala, a graduate of Colby College and Northeastern University's School of Law, also teaches Disability Law at the New England School of Law. Mala and Rosenfeld Rafik & Sullivan, P.C. were nominated for a 2011 Massachusetts Bar Association Pro Bono Award.