The Toledo City Council has approved its part of a plan that could eliminate up to $240 million in medical debt, NBC affiliate WNWO reported Nov. 9.
Under the plan, Toledo will commit $800,000 in American Rescue Plans funds to partner with RIP Medical Debt and Lucas County, whose commissioners have also pledged $800,000. Hospitals would determine which patients' debt is relieved, according to the report.
City Council member Michele Grim introduced an ordinance in September that would have used $1.4 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to partner with RIP Medical Debt and was estimated to wipe out between $180 million to $200 million in medical debt. That proposal stalled before Lucas County Commissioners announced they were seeking to partner with the city on a debt relief plan.