Latest news with #communityinitiative
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Connecticut expands medical debt relief to 100,000 more residents: Who is eligible
More than 100,000 Connecticut residents will soon receive letters notifying them of medical debt relief, according to a community announcement. Gov. Ned Lamont announced May 21 that the second round of an initiative, launched last year in partnership with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, is underway. The program aims to eliminate medical debt for residents who meet specific income criteria. Undue Medical Debt negotiates with hospitals and other providers to eliminate large portfolios of qualifying medical debt. To qualify, residents must have an income at or below four times the federal poverty level or have medical debt that is 5% or more of their income. In this round, the state invested $575,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funding. Undue Medical Debt was able to negotiate with a secondary market partner to acquire and eliminate more than $100 million in qualifying medical debt. The first round, which occurred in December, eliminated approximately $30 million in medical debt for 23,000 residents. Those who have been identified for relief will receive a branded envelope and letter from Undue Medical Debt in the mail over the next several days. (To view a sample of what this letter looks like, click here.) 'Medical debt causes additional anxiety and stress when individuals and families are coping with potentially life-threatening health situations,' Lamont said. 'Over the next few days, more than 100,000 Connecticut residents who have been struggling to pay their medical bills will feel relief when they receive letters in the mail notifying them that their debt has been erased. I am hopeful that additional medical partners will soon sign onto this program to help more Connecticut families through further rounds of this initiative.' Allison Sesso, CEO and president of Undue Medical Debt, expressed gratitude for the state's continued partnership in providing medical debt relief. 'The erasure of these debts of necessity wouldn't be possible without community-minded leaders like Governor Lamont and his team, who believe medical debt should not be a hindrance to seeking needed care,' Sesso said. 'We look forward to continuing our work in the state so families can seek healthcare with dignity.' State Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, co-chair of the legislature's Public Health Committee, also praised the initiative. 'Medical debt can be a crippling burden on patients, especially those who are already struggling to make ends meet,' Vahey said. 'Erasing medical debt for an additional 100,000 residents will greatly ease the stress they are facing and will free them up to focus on their health and well-being. Thank you to Governor Lamont and Undue Medical Debt for their leadership on this innovative program.' There is no application process for this relief, as the debt erasure occurs through the purchase of large, qualifying bundled portfolios of debt from participating partners like hospitals and collection agencies. Lamont plans to continue partnering with Undue Medical Debt for further rounds of medical debt cancellation. The governor and the Connecticut General Assembly have enacted legislation that makes $6.5 million in ARPA funding available for this initiative. This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Is your CT medical debt being erased? Check your mail this week
ABC News
15-05-2025
- ABC News
Queensland inquiry hears of far-reaching effects of elder abuse
On today's program: Harrowing tales of how the elderly are treated in their own homes are being told across Queensland. It's part of the Queensland Government's parliamentary inquiry into elder abuse, which is currently visiting the north of the state. Reporter: Conor Byrne (Cairns) Wind farm developers are offering multi-million-dollar payments to neighbours of their projects in a bid to ease tensions over who benefits. Supporters hope the move will bridge the gap between "haves and have-nots", but critics say real coexistence still has a long way to go. Reporter: Brandon Long (Toowoomba) Youth crime has troubled the remote Kimberley town of Fitzroy Crossing for years, with break-ins, car thefts and antisocial behaviour making headlines and sparking calls for action. But a new community-led initiative focused on getting kids of the streets at night is starting to show signs of real change. Reporter: Rosanne Maloney (Broome)
