[Petra Pasternak]
President Obama’s health care overhaul passed this year with a ton of hubbub, but few actually know what it means for them and their family members. Mountain View lawyer Patrick Premo aims to change that.
A little more than a year ago, the Fenwick & West partner’s sister, a longtime school teacher, lost her job. She has a serious pre-existing condition, he said, and was denied medical coverage. “She finally has coverage now,” Premo said. “It’s extremely costly.”
His sister’s experience inspired Premo to help put together a health care clinic as part of the firm’s latest pro bono efforts, which the firm is launching in time for the American Bar Association’s second annual National Pro Bono Celebration Week October 25th through the 29th. Next week, Fenwick and the Legal Aid of San Mateo County are giving attorneys a crash course in health care reform. Legal Aid will help lawyers understand Medicare and Medi-Cal, including program eligibility, the interplay between the programs, and how to help people access benefits.
The clinic, which will run once a month starting Nov. 9, will focus on low-income elderly and disabled San Mateo County residents. Premo expects 12 to 16 clients per clinic.
He said attorneys from other law firms and companies are welcome to join the training next week.
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