Rep. Grim Announces Mercy Health's Agreement to Relieve Patient Debt with RIP Medical Debt

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Michele Grim (D- Toledo) today is proud to stand alongside Mercy Health, the nonprofit group RIP Medical Debt, The City of Toledo, and Lucas County as they announce the abolishment of $7.22 million worth of medical debt for 4,917 area patients. 

“This is a great day for thousands of people in our community struggling with medical debt. Medical debt is a burden that impacts the physical, mental, and financial health of our families. Toledo and Lucas County have stepped up to bring broad-based relief and I applaud Mercy Health for their leadership in becoming the first local provider to embrace this innovative solution to help patients,” said Rep. Grim.

During her time as an at-large member of Toledo City Council, Rep. Grim spearheaded the effort to establish Toledo and Lucas County’s groundbreaking medical debt relief initiative, which has inspired similar community-scale debt relief programs across the country and been highlighted by the White House for Toledo’s use of American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Rep. Grim continues her efforts to make high-quality healthcare available for all at the Statehouse. On September 20th she delivered sponsor testimony on House Bill (HB) 174, The Ohio Health Care Plan in the House Insurance Committee. The Ohio Health Care Plan would enact universal healthcare for all Ohioans, guaranteeing coverage. In her testimony she emphasized that medical debt is the number one reason Americans enter bankruptcy. 

Rep. Grim will continue the fight, on all fronts, for an Ohio where healthcare is accessible without burden.

Medical debt subjects millions of Americans from securing financial stability as 50% of U.S. adults wouldn’t be able to afford an unexpected $500 medical bill. The nonprofit group RIP Medical Debt has helped relieve Americans of more than $10 billion in medical debt.