In the wake of the pandemic, medical debt has become the largest category of debt collections in the United States and the single largest cause of people declaring bankruptcy. The racial justice and health equity implications of medical debt are staggering. Those struggling with medical debt are less likely to seek the care that they need, while Black DC residents are 300 percent more likely than white residents to be burdened by medical debt.
A panel on October 19, 2023, at 7 p.m. hosted by Temple Sinai (with a virtual option as well) will illuminate the scope and impact of medical debt, particularly on BIPOC residents of the DMV, and discuss ways to eliminate medical debt, both through one-time giving and systemic advocacy. The discussion will highlight how private philanthropy purchasing and eliminating medical debt provides immediate relief to families dealing with the devastating consequences of medical debt, why systemic policy reform to break the cycle of medical debt is needed going forward, and what can be done.
Temple Sinai’s Senior Rabbi Jonathan Roos will give opening remarks on debt cancellation as a Jewish value. The panel will be moderated by Ariel Levinson-Waldman, Tzedek DC’s Founding President and Director-Counsel. Panelists include:
Berneta Haynes, Senior Attorney at the National Consumer Law Center
Eva Stahl, Vice President of Public Policy at RIP Medical Debt
Joseph Geevarghese, Executive Director of Our Revolution
Jennifer Holloway, Equal Justice Works Fellow at Tzedek DC
The panel discussion will be the kick-off for an exciting Temple Sinai financial campaign to eliminate more than $1 million in medical debt in DC and Maryland. With the collaboration of Tzedek DC, Temple Sinai is working with RIP Medical Debt, a national non-profit organization providing debt relief to underserved communities. For every dollar donated, RIP can purchase and cancel $100 in medical debt and also completely erase medical debt from patients’ credit reports, offering them a fresh start.
Further discussion of medical debt can be reviewed in this recent New York Times article.
Register today to attend either in person or virtually.
About Tzedek DC and Our Medical Debt Project
Tzedek DC’s name is drawn from the ancient Jewish teaching “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof,” or “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” Headquartered at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with lower incomes facing the often-devastating consequences of debt collection and credit-related obstacles, including those arising from medical debt. This mission is carried out as anti-racism work in response to the massive wealth gaps tracking race in DC and nationwide. Tzedek DC seeks to serve and empower its client base, which is comprised of 90% Black residents, 60% women, and 25% disabled community members. Our strategic approach combines three synergistic activities: (i) free direct services—legal representation and advice, and financial counseling; (ii) working in coalition to make systemic change; and (iii) providing bilingual community legal education on debt collection, identity theft, and credit management. Since 2017, Tzedek DC has served over 3,000 client households in legal matters and catalyzed systemic reforms benefiting hundreds of thousands of DC residents.
A portion of Tzedek DC’s medical debt work is funded by the Health Equity Fund. The $95 million Health Equity Fund is designated to improve the health outcomes and health equity of residents of the District of Columbia. The historic fund is one of the largest philanthropic funds of any kind focused on community-based nonprofits that serve District residents. Created against a backdrop of urgent healthcare needs in the District of Columbia, the Health Equity Fund will be used to address health disparities and social determinants of health for historically underserved District residents. The Greater Washington Community Foundation was independently selected to manage the Health Equity Fund because of its track record of working with individual donors, businesses, and local government to manage effective community investments and create tangible, lasting change in the region. Health Equity Fund goals align with The Community Foundation’s ongoing work and 10-year strategic vision to close the racial wealth gap by eliminating the historic, racialized disparities in the Greater Washington region.