The City of New Orleans Partners with Undue Medical Debt and Ochsner Health to Eliminate Medical Debt for Eligible Low-Income Patients.

Data News Staff Edited Report The City of New Orleans, New Orleans City Council, Ochsner Health and the National Nonprofit Undue Medical Debt (previously RIP Medical Debt) are pleased to announce an agreement that will help erase more than $59 million worth of past medical debt for about 66,000 qualifying patients living in New Orleans. Impacted residents do not need to apply, and there is no application process. Instead, residents who qualify for this debt relief will receive a branded letter from Undue Medical Debt indicating which debt or debts have been eliminated. Undue Medical Debt works with hospital systems and other providers across the country to purchase portfolios of past due medical debt belonging to those least able to pay and then erases the debt. Under Undue Medical Debt guidelines, those who qualify for this Medical Debt Relief have medical debts that are 5% or more than their annual income or earn at or below four times poverty-level income. The current federal poverty level is an annual income of under $31,200 for a family of four. Letters for residents who qualify for this one-time debt relief are arriving in the area now. Residents do not need to take any...