Page 24 - The Indian EYE 020224

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 02, 2024 | The Indian Eye 24

Mayor Adams to relieve over $2 Billion in

Medical Debt for Hundreds of Thousands of

Working-Class New Yorkers

$18 Million Investment Will Provide Relief for up to 500,000 New Yorkers Burdened With Medical

Debt, Becoming Largest Municipal Medical Debt Relief Program in Country

OUR BUREAU

NEW YORK, NY
ew York City Mayor Eric
Adams and New York City
NDepartment of Health and
Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Com-
missioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan today
announced a pioneering medical debt
relief program, that will invest $18 mil-
lion over three years to relieve over $2
billion in medical debt for hundreds
of thousands of working-class New
Yorkers. Medical debt — the num-
ber one cause of bankruptcy in the
United States — disproportionate-
ly affects uninsured, under-insured,
and low-income households, and the
city’s program would wipe out debt
for up to 500,000 New Yorkers on a
one-time basis. The city will partner
with RIP Medical Debt, a nation-
al, New York City-based nonprofit
specializing in buying and ultimately
wiping out medical debt to acquire
debt portfolios and retiree debt from
health care providers and hospitals
across New York City. Affected New ing rent or for other essentials and the future.” laboration come together since RIP
Yorkers will then be notified that their paying off their medical debt, which is “Throughout my career as a doc- Medical Debt was founded here in
medical debt has been relieved; there why we are proud to bring this relief tor, I have seen first-hand how high New York City,” said Allison Sesso,
is no application process for this pro- to families across the five boroughs, health care costs and medical debt president and CEO, RIP Medical
gram. The one-time debt relief pro- as we continue to fight on behalf of can force patients to make impossible Debt. “Medical debt is a failing of the
gram, the largest municipal initiative working-class New Yorkers.” choices,” said DOHMH Commis- system writ large, not people. Beyond
of its kind in the country, will launch “For hundreds of thousands sioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “No one creating often unpayable financial
in early 2024 and run for three years. of New Yorkers and for millions of in New York City, or in America, in burdens, medical debt undermines
“Getting health care shouldn’t be Americans, medical debt creates 2024, should have to choose between one’s mental health as well. By mak-
a burden that weighs on New Yorkers anxiety, uncertainty, and stress,” said getting the health care they need and ing future care more accessible, this
and their families,” said Mayor Ad- Deputy Mayor for Health and Hu- paying their rent or buying food to initiative aligns well with hospitals
ams. “Since day one, our administra- man Services Anne Williams-Isom. feed their families. But as a provider, and health systems’ community bene-
tion has been driven by the clear mis- “It weighs not only on individual and I have seen all-too-often patients who fit and health equity efforts.”
sion of supporting working-class New familial balance sheets, but may cause delay or forgo lifesaving care because “We applaud Mayor Adams and
Yorkers and today’s investment that some to put off additional care and of fear of high costs leading to debt. his administration for making medical
will provide $2 billion in medical debt limits upward financial mobility. New Medical debt caused by the exorbitant debt relief a top priority for those in
relief is another major step in deliver- York City’s investment through this and ever-rising costs of health care greatest need. At Episcopal Health
ing on that vision. Up to half a million partnership will help working people is the number one cause of personal Services, we recognize daily the sig-
New Yorkers will see their medical and families advance their health and bankruptcy in the United States, and nificant burden mounting health care
debt wiped thanks to this life chang- financial well-being so they can thrive, also has our economy on an unsus- costs have on our patients and our
ing program — the largest municipal instead of just survive. Furthermore, tainable path. As a physician and ad- community. We wholeheartedly sup-
initiative of its kind in the country. we realize this issue is part of a larg- vocate, I know medical debt is killing port this measure, understanding it
No one chooses to go into medical er complex health care system and New Yorkers and killing our econo- will have a significant positive impact
debt — if you’re sick or injured, you we look forward to continuing to ad- my, and today, this city is stepping up on the lives and wellbeing of those we
need to seek care. But no New Yorker vocate for systemic changes to help to say that the people deserve better.” serve,” said Gerard M. Walsh, CEO,
should have to choose between pay- New Yorkers avoid medical debt in “It’s gratifying to see this col- Episcopal Health Services.

www.TheIndianEYE.com