Los Angeles County has launched an ambitious effort to tackle medical debt, aiming to track patient debt and hospital collection practices, provide bill forgiveness for low-income patients, and buy and forgive billions in medical debt. The county sees medical debt as a public health threat and has received both support and pushback, with some hospitals calling for revisions to the plan. Medical debt disproportionately affects people of color, low-income individuals, and families with children. The county is working to hold hospitals accountable for their role in the crisis and improve financial assistance programs to alleviate the burden on patients.
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Los Angeles County Launches Ambitious Plan To Tackle Medical Debt. Hospitals Groan.
