Mission: The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center’s Health Care Access Project (HCAP) provides representation to low-income individuals whose health care is jeopardized either because of unmanageable medical debt or because they cannot obtain pre-approval for medical treatment or medication by their private insurer or public benefits program. Services through the project have the potential to benefit not only the client/patient, but also the medical facilities involved and, indeed, the general health care system.
Website: https://www.dcbar.org/pro-bono/volunteer/hcap.cfm#volunteers
Contact: https://www.dcbar.org/about-the-bar/contact-us.cfm
Phone: (202) 737-4700
What volunteers do:
Health Care Access Project volunteers employ both litigation and non–litigation strategies to resolve the debt or obtain pre-approval for treatment, including (i) representation in cases pending in D.C. Superior Court; (ii) working to obtain benefits to which the client is and/or was entitled under an insurance or public benefits program; (iii) working to reduce the debt due to unsubstantiated charges; (iv) negotiating a payment plan; (v) negotiating to obtain pre-approval for treatment; and/or (vi) utilizing insurance company appeal procedures when pre-approval is denied.
FYI:
Interested volunteers who agree to accept two pro bono referrals from the Health Care Access Project (HCAP) or one of the sponsoring organizations are eligible to view the HCAP training video on probono.net/DC. A membership is required, and will be approved once the participant agrees to referral of the two cases mentioned above. This training is appropriate for attorneys and attorney/paralegal teams. Attorneys must be admitted to practice in D.C., have an application pending to be admitted to practice in D.C. or be a government employee or internal counsel authorized to practice under Rule 49.
Mission: HIPS believes that those engaged in sex work, sex trade, and drug use should be able to live healthy, self-determined, and self-sufficient lives free from stigma, violence, criminalization or oppression. This is achieved through engaging sex workers, drug users and our communities in challenging structural barriers to health, safety, and prosperity.
Website: http://www.hips.org/volunteer.html
Email: http://www.hips.org/contact-us.html
Phone: (202) 232-8150
What Volunteers do:
- Mobile Service Van - Overnight & Daytime Outreach: Staff the HIPS Mobile Services Van, which runs on weekends from 11 P.M. – 5 A.M. Th, Fri and Sat nights, and during weekday afternoons M-Th. The van does street-based outreach, needle exchange, condom distribution, and harm reduction counseling around DC.
- Hotline: Monitor the HIPS hotline, which is a low-volume, 24/hr support service that provides harm reduction counseling, safety planning, crisis management, health information, and referrals, as well as support to DC’s LGBTQ community through the LGBTQ Violence Response Hotline.
- Community Engagement: Assist with fundraising, advocacy, tabling and events opportunities.
- Administrative Support: Create fliers and pamphlets, enter data, assist with research projects, and support other administrative work in the HIPS office.
FYI:
- Volunteers accepted this spring must attend orientation on May 13, where you will interview for the volunteer positions that you're interested in. Not all who sign up to volunteer or attend the orientation are selected to join the volunteer team. If selected, please note the mandatory training schedule, and the minimum required hours for the various roles.
Mission: The Medicare Rights Center is a national, nonprofit consumer service organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs and public policy initiatives.
Website: https://www.medicarerights.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities
Volunteer form: https://www.medicarerights.org/volunteer-info-form
Email: volunteer@medicarerights.org
Phone: (212) 869-3850
What volunteers do:
- Assist enrollment and operations staff in helping eligible individuals successfully enroll in Medicare.
- Provide ad hoc support as needed, which may include filing, copying, entering data, graphic designing, marketing research, fundraising and compiling reports.