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ck4829

(35,714 posts)
Fri Nov 25, 2022, 11:56 AM Nov 2022

How one Ohio city is tackling the 'uniquely American problem' of medical debt

As lawmakers were being elected and constituents were voting on key ballot measures this month, one Ohio city council passed a measure with the potential to make an enormous financial impact on its community: buying out and relieving the medical debt of its residents.

The Toledo City Council voted 7-5 in early November to use $800,000 of funds from the American Rescue Plan to buy out medical debt for qualifying residents. 

The Board of County Commissioners for Lucas County, for which Toledo is the county seat, also agreed to match this pledge, raising the funds to $1.6 million.

This measure was spearheaded by Toledo City Councilwoman Michele Grim (D), a longtime public health advocate who was recently elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. Around $240 million worth of debt is expected to be erased.

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3748423-how-one-ohio-city-is-tackling-the-uniquely-american-problem-of-medical-debt/

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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How one Ohio city is tackling the 'uniquely American problem' of medical debt (Original Post) ck4829 Nov 2022 OP
One of my adult children died from a condition that RX Stargazer99 Nov 2022 #1
Oh Stargazer mahina Nov 2022 #4
... progressoid Nov 2022 #5
It is unconscionable that we don't have universal free healthcare and college/trade school MLAA Nov 2022 #6
YES! Indeed. Duppers Nov 2022 #9
🕯️ Duppers Nov 2022 #10
This is a good example of what ARP finds should be used for! Diamond_Dog Nov 2022 #2
That is just wonderful. Saving people from disaster. Bravo judesedit Nov 2022 #3
This IS wonderful, but essentially the ARP funds will go to the creditors bank accounts. erronis Nov 2022 #7
Wow- Did I just hear the whisper of socialistic medicine - IN OHIO!! packman Nov 2022 #8
Note the "D" after her name. Grins Nov 2022 #11

Stargazer99

(2,926 posts)
1. One of my adult children died from a condition that RX
Fri Nov 25, 2022, 12:01 PM
Nov 2022

Last edited Fri Nov 25, 2022, 01:14 PM - Edit history (2)

could have kept her alive. Apparently in this country poor people are not as valuable as the well to do. The worst part is my 14 yr old grandaughter awork that morning to find her mother dead on the floor and she has had major depression from that horrible experience.

MLAA

(18,512 posts)
6. It is unconscionable that we don't have universal free healthcare and college/trade school
Fri Nov 25, 2022, 01:49 PM
Nov 2022

Education.

Diamond_Dog

(34,411 posts)
2. This is a good example of what ARP finds should be used for!
Fri Nov 25, 2022, 12:16 PM
Nov 2022

And AG Yost wanted to use it for tax cuts. I’m glad he got slapped down in court over that.

erronis

(16,744 posts)
7. This IS wonderful, but essentially the ARP funds will go to the creditors bank accounts.
Fri Nov 25, 2022, 01:49 PM
Nov 2022

Unfortunately it almost encourages more insurance/hospital/profiteers to try to get more of the government money.

Give them a few cents and they'll want your bank account.

 

packman

(16,296 posts)
8. Wow- Did I just hear the whisper of socialistic medicine - IN OHIO!!
Fri Nov 25, 2022, 02:02 PM
Nov 2022

Next thing they'll be wanting to clothe the naked, feed the starving, house the homeless


Regardless, good for them.

Made me recall my father who had little regard for Ohio drivers, called them the worst in the nation for some reason.

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