Campaign to End Medical Debt Joins Forces with National Alliance to

Initiative erases medical debt for needy families and veterans; tune in to Dec. 19 webinar to learn more

WASHINGTON – Dec. 18, 2017 – Medical debt affects approximately one in five Americans, costs more than $100 billion a year, draining the economy, ruining lives. To expand the reach to combat this growing issue, the non-profit National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions is collaborating with the Campaign to End Medical Debt to extend its program to secure donations from donors to buy and forgive medical debt to communities throughout the US.

Started by clinicians, advocates and economists as an effort to forgive $8 million of medical debt for needy families in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the non-profit Campaign to End Medical Debt is expanding to forgive medical debt for high-need families and veterans and to prevent medical debt in the first place. A volunteer effort, the Campaign is supported by founding partners HealthBegins, RIP Medical Debt and the Research Consortium on Medical Debt.

“Our national and regional structure of coalition member change agents across the country offers deep knowledge of healthcare and specifically the regional environments that make the National Alliance ideally suited to assist the countrywide expansion of the Campaign to End Medical Debt,” said Michael Thompson, National Alliance president and CEO. “Given the far-reaching impact of medical debt to nearly everyone –  friends, neighbors and employees – it’s critical that this effort is part of a broader strategy to educate individuals, hospitals and employers about ways to reduce and prevent medical debt in the first place.”

December 19 Webinar

As part of these education efforts, the National Alliance is hosting a webinar for coalitions and their employer members and other healthcare stakeholders on Tuesday, Dec. 19, from 2:00-3:00 pm Eastern. Rishi Manchanda, MD, president HealthBegins, will lead the webinar and offer insights as to how the Campaign works and ways to expand the program throughout the US. For additional details or to register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/843433557706700035.

“This holiday season is an ideal time to grow our impact to forgive and prevent medical debt nationwide,” said Dr. Manchanda. “Our Campaign to End Medical Debt coalition bundles gifts from generous donors to buy large portfolios of medical debt for pennies on the dollar. We then forgive that debt, impacting thousands of families. Donations also support our efforts to educate people about specific ways to reduce or prevent medical debt in the first place.”

Far-reaching impact

A $50 tax-deductible donation to the Campaign to End Medical Debt eliminates approximately $5,000 of medical debt for a needy family. As the donation amounts grow, so does the impact with a $500 donation eliminating $50,000, and $1,000 relieving at least $100,000 of burdensome medical debt.

About Campaign to End Medical Debt

Launched by clinicians and advocates, the Campaign to End Medical Debt is a coalition effort that improves the financial security and health of high risk, vulnerable populations by forgiving and preventing medical debt and its harmful effects. For more information and to get involved, please visit www.endmedicaldebt.org or connect with us on Twitter.

About HealthBegins

Founded by physicians and public health experts, HealthBegins believes that healthcare is better when it routinely addresses ‘upstream’ social and environmental conditions that make people sick, especially for our most vulnerable patients and communities. HealthBegins advances a culture of health in the US and abroad by mobilizing and equipping health professionals to improve care and the social determinants of health. For more information, please visit www.healthbegins.org.

About RIP Medical Debt

RIP Medical Debt is a nonprofit organization that allows generous donors and organizations to erase the debt of Americans whose lives have been ruined by destructive medical debt. Founded in 2014 by two former collections industry executives, Craig Antico & Jerry Ashton, RIP rose to national prominence on an episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver that has been viewed almost 10 million times, where RIP facilitated the erasure of $15 million in medical debt that only cost $60,000. To learn more, and get involved, visit www.ripmedicaldebt.org.

About National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions

The National Alliance is a nonprofit network of business health coalitions, representing more than 12,000 purchasers and 41 million Americans. The National Alliance through its regional network of coalitions are dedicated to driving innovation, health and value through the collective action of public and private purchasers. The organization seeks to accelerate the nation’s progress toward safe, efficient, high-quality healthcare and the improved health status of the American population. To learn more, visit nationalalliancehealth.org or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.