Now is the time for Mayor Horrigan to act on medical debt relief
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan recently delivered his final State of the City address before leaving office. In it, he wove a vision of a bright and prosperous future under a new generation of leaders with moments of reflection on his past administration. He advised such future leaders that their role is “not about pleasing the loudest voices in the room, it is about doing the right thing for all of Akron.”
In his final months in office, Mayor Horrigan now has a timely opportunity to demonstrate just that kind of strong leadership by using his spending authority to relieve medical debt for thousands of Akron’s citizens struggling with medical debt.
Using just a small fraction of the $145 million in federal COVID relief funds given to the city by Congress, Horrigan could eliminate tens of millions of dollars in unpaid medical bills now weighing down working families. This can be done in partnership with the non-profit group RIP Medical Debt, an organization that purchases and then forgives the debt with no strings attached. In recent campaigns, each dollar of debt is bought on average for a single penny, so $800,000 could clear no less than $80 million in debt. When possible, RIP Medical Debt also assists in removing negative credit histories so families can move forward with their lives.
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Other cities including Chicago and Toledo have already taken the lead in this innovative use of American Rescue Plan Act dollars. Their feats have even been touted by the Biden administration in a February memo on medical debt. Here at home, City Council has voiced its intention to bring the project to Akron through the unanimous approval of a resolution calling on medical debt relief funds to be included in this next budget. Among the resolution’s sponsors was Deputy Mayor Marco Sommerville, whom Horrigan is endorsing in the upcoming mayoral election.
At a time when tensions have risen between local government and Akron residents, and more and more citizens claim that they feel unheard by their representatives, the city needs a demonstration of strong moral and fiscal leadership more than ever, especially as it prepares for the transition of many of its top officials. This project is a perfect opportunity to show the people of Akron that their leaders are still willing to come together to embrace effective solutions that address the real needs of their communities. All that is required is a commitment of funds. This is their moment of opportunity to truly serve the people who elected them.
Coming into office, Mayor Horrigan was advised by a Blue Ribbon Task Force to focus on stabilizing the city’s shaky financial position and encouraging new housing. With an average return on investment of 100 to 1, it is hard to imagine a better deal for the use of Akron’s COVID relief money.
Medical debt is the most common contributing factor in personal bankruptcies in our country, and is a major handicap to building credit. Our fellow citizens who are crippled by medical debt cannot pursue home ownership, are challenged to feed their families, and cannot pursue their health care needs or fill their needed prescriptions. This is the time to help them out of these life-threatening circumstances.
The issue of medical debt reaches beyond just economics. It is a matter of justice. Nearly 13% of Summit County residents currently have medical debt in collections, but that already appallingly high number jumps to 22% in communities of color. Akron residents have long been calling for reform that addresses racial disparities, and while medical debt relief will not completely resolve these systemic issues, it is one strong step in the right direction. In these communities, medical debt kills patients who believe they can’t get treatment they need if they already owe money for it. It kills patients who are so afraid of bankrupting their families that they choose not to pursue the medical care that they need and that may be life-saving.
It is time for us to ask the hard questions about how we want to see COVID relief money spent. With Akron’s 2023 budget due by the end of March, the time to act is now. Medical debt weighs heavily on the shoulders of far too many Akronites. We have the money to help alleviate this burden. Mayor Horrigan, we implore you to do the right thing for the people of Akron, to make their lives better and to make our city stronger and healthier. You can leave a far-reaching and long-lasting impact on the city you have so faithfully led.
James Tyler Moore is a second-year medical student at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and serves as VP of political advocacy for the school’s chapter of Students for a National Health Program (SNaHP).
Dr. Joseph Zarconi is a tenured professor of internal medicine at NEOMED and nephrologist who has practiced in Akron for over 30 years.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan should act on medical debt relief now
