The LA County Board of Supervisors called Tuesday for the creation of a $5 million pilot program aimed at helping low-income residents eliminate medical debt.Under a motion introduced by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Holly Mitchell, the county Department of Public Health will collaborate with the organization Undue Medical Debt -- formerly RIP Medical Debt -- to develop the pilot program, which would continue through Dec. 31, 2027.
County will provide for our residents, particularly when we recognize what role that debt plays in a person's ability to maintain housing," Mitchell said.In October of last year, the board adopted a motion directing county departments to research and report back with recommendations for policies that could reduce medical debt. That effort led to a recommendation that the county pursue a "targeted pilot program for medical debt relief.