DURHAM, N.H. - The Institute for Health Policy and Practice (IHPP) at the University of New Hampshire and the UNH School of Law have launched a formal partnership to build an applied research and teaching program in health law.

Gov. Maggie Hassan joined UNH School of Law Dean John Broderick, IHPP Director Ned Helms, and UNH College of Health and Human Services Dean Mike Ferrara for a celebration and recognition of the partnership today (Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013) at the UNH School of Law campus in Concord.

As health care and health policy increasingly drive politics and economics, this partnership will strengthen each entity's capacity to serve the state and the nation in the quest for optimal health and the policy that supports it, the leaders of both organizations said.
 
"The current landscape of health and health care transformation demands expertise in all areas, including law," Broderick said. "This partnership with the Institute for Health Policy and Practice will build upon UNH Law's focus on leadership in public policy, most recently demonstrated by the opening of our Warren B. Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership & Public Policy, to elevate the understanding of health law for New Hampshire and the region."

"The Institute for Health Policy and Practice has become a state and national leader in its efforts to assure excellence across all systems to yield optimal health and health care," Helms said. "Bringing legal expertise from UNH Law to bear on the rapid change and evolution taking place in this area -- including implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the growth and importance of public health initiatives in the state and nation -- will greatly enhance our ability to compete for grants and ultimately inform a system that can bring better health outcome to citizens."

"This partnership serves as the first of what we anticipate to be many productive opportunities that are made possible by the merger of the law school with the University of New Hampshire," added UNH Provost Lisa MacFarlane.

The two entities will partner to hire a health law specialist to direct a new Health Law & Policy Program (HLPP). Dividing his or her time equally between UNH Law and IHPP, the new hire, anticipated for 2014, will teach a health law course, work with IHPP and UNH Law to facilitate placement of students in health-law related research and learning opportunities, facilitate joint programming between the two institutes, and partner to submit grants to support the development of the HLPP.

In spring of 2014, the new HLPP will host a conference on current health and legal issues.
"Improving the availability of information and data about New Hampshire's health care system is essential for developing effective policies that will enhance care for our people, families and businesses," Hassan said. "This innovative partnership between UNH Law and IHPP will bring together great minds and resources from both the policy and legal fields as we work to meet the complex health needs of all of our people. I want to congratulate both organizations for this exciting initiative and thank them for their work to strengthen the health and well-being of our families, our communities and our state."
The IHPP has relocated its Concord-based office to space within the law school. The primary office of the IHPP will remain in Durham, where the institute is part of UNH's College of Health and Human Services.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,300 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.

Photograph available to download:
/unhtoday/news/releases/2013/11/images/healthpolicy-6485.jpg
Caption: L-R: UNH College of Health and Human Services Dean Mike Ferrara, UNH School of Law Dean John Broderick, Gov. Maggie Hassan, and UNH Institute for Health Policy and Practice Director Ned Helms met today (Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013) at the UNH School of Law campus in Concord to celebrate a new partnership between the Institute for Health Policy and Practice and the UNH School of Law.
Credit: Perry Smith, UNH Photographic Services

-30-