KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Governor Gretchen Whitmer is expected to release the details of the state’s Medical Debt Relief program today, and Kalamazoo was one of the communities involved.
A New York-based nonprofit called Undue Medical Debt negotiated with Michigan hospitals and clinics and purchased the debt of over 200,000 eligible state residents for pennies on the dollar.
County board vice chair John Taylor says it’s taken a big bite out of the debt owed by local residents.
“$2,485,000 of medical debt has been eliminated from Kalamazoo County resident’s bills,” says Taylor.
County board chair Jen Strebs says residents with outstanding medical bills often avoid seeking treatment when they need it.
“When we can alleviate that, we open up the opportunity for people to be healthy, to protect themselves and to live longer lives.”
Having medical debt can also add to stress levels and impact credit ratings, leading to obstacles in obtaining loans, housing and employment.
More details on the local impact will be available after the governor’s news conference today in Detroit.
Both the city of Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo County board contributed funding to make the program possible here.
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