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Motion of the Council of Allegheny County authorizing a public hearing, pursuant to the Home Rule Charter and Administrative Code of Allegheny County and the Rules of Allegheny County Council, on Monday, September 18, 2023, at 6:00 pm in the Gold Room of the Allegheny County Courthouse.
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Whereas, according to reports published in 2022, more than 100 million people in the United States - including almost half (41%) of the adults in this country - have some degree of medical debt (see Levey, 100 Million People in America Are Saddled With Health Care Debt, KFF Health News, June 16, 2022); and
Whereas, as reported in that same article, medical debt is far more pervasive than previously reported, because much of the debt that patients accrue is hidden as credit card balances, loans from family, or payment plans to hospitals and other medical providers; and
Whereas, according to polling data cited in the article, in the past five years, more than half of U.S. adults report they’ve gone into debt because of medical or dental bills, a quarter of adults with health care debt owe more than $5,000, and about 1 in 5 with any amount of debt said they don’t expect to ever pay it off; and
Whereas, that same data also revealed that 63% of indebted adults cut back spending on food, clothing or other basic necessities due to medical debt, while 28% delayed buying a home or pursuing education, and 17% ended up declaring bankruptcy or losing their home;
The purpose of this hearing is to allow the public opportunity to comment on and receive information relating to medical debt and its impacts upon Allegheny County residents. Public testimony is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. on September 18, 2023. Individuals wishing to speak must register in advance in accordance with the rules governing public comment at Council meetings. Written testimony will be accepted by the Chief Clerk through Monday, September 25, 2023.
The members of Council that are committed to at...
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