How transportation improves economy, quality of life
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Program Aims to Erase up to $200 Million in Medical Debt
Oakland County’s Transformational Program Aims to Erase up to $200 Million in Medical Debt for Burdened Residents
Post Date:10/19/2023 1:30 PM
- The county will use $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to purchase the medical debt of Oakland County residents for a fraction of its cost, then eliminate their debt.
- The national non-profit organization RIP Medical Debt will work with local health systems on behalf of the county to identify thousands of Oakland County residents who have unpaid medical bills. Qualifying debtors will be notified by mail when debts are abolished.
- Oakland County’s medical debt forgiveness program has the potential to help up to 80,000 residents.
Pontiac, Mich. – Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, in partnership with the nonprofit organization RIP Medical Debt, will leverage $2 million of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to purchase up to $200 million in medical debt of Oakland County residents for a fraction of its cost, then wipe clean their debt.
“No matter what a person’s circumstances are, a medical crisis can be devastating for them and their families – physically, financially, and emotionally,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter during a news conference at Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit in Royal Oak on Thursday, Oct. 19. “We should do what we can to help people who find themselves on the brink of bankruptcy due to a health condition or emergency.”
Approximately 114,000 Oakland County residents carry medical debt. It is the number one source of bankruptcy in the United States and is especially prevalent in communities of color and rural areas. The average medical debt is $2,500 per household. Oakland County’s medical debt elimination program has the potential to help up to 80,000 residents.
“Medical debt hurts working families, ruins credit, and makes life more expensive,” Board of Commissioners Chair David T. Woodward of Royal Oak said. “Wiping out medical debt for county families is one more way we’re building an economy that works for everyone, from the bottom up and the middle out.”
The non-profit RIP Medical Debt is a national organization that acquires and abolishes medical debt for people experiencing financial hardship. Its qualifications for relief are debts belonging to people who earn less than four times the federal poverty level or for whom a debt is five percent or more of one’s annual income. Once a contract is in place, their staff will implement Oakland County’s medical debt elimination program by working with area hospitals to identify residents who fit the criteria for relief. Then on behalf of the county, RIP Medical Debt will buy the medical debt for pennies on the dollar and abolish it.
“We know that medical debt is detrimental to health because families delay care when they have debt which increases the burden of disease in communities,” said Deputy County Executive Madiha Tariq, who oversees the Health and Human Services Department. “Medical debt is also a huge blow to our economy, impacting the workforce, housing, and deepening the cycle of poverty.”
This is not a medical debt relief program to which residents can apply. RIP Medical Debt will notify individuals by branded letter that some or all their debt has been canceled and cleared from their credit reports.
Michigan resident Kyra, who lives with the challenges of diabetes, shared her story with news conference attendees. RIP Medical Debt purchased and wiped clean approximately $3,500 of her medical debt.
Kyra was diagnosed with diabetes at age 10 – a chronic condition that runs in her family. During her teen years, her family’s medical insurance paid for the management of her condition. As a young adult, she was without medical insurance coverage, accumulating debt, and struggling to keep her job. After RIP Medical Debt purchased and abolished her debt, she was able to move her life forward. Today, she is working a job which pays more than she earned when she was under the burden of medical debt.
“Being free from medical debt is a breath of fresh air,” Kyra said. “No bothering calls or threatening letters. To be honest, I don’t feel overwhelmed anymore and this all happened at the right time.”
Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit, which provides support, education and wellness programming to cancer patients and families, has witnessed the toll of medical debt on their community.
“Financial toxicity is among the top stressors of families facing cancer,” said Laura Varon Brown, CEO of Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit. “At a time when families have so many complexities and fears weighing on them, how to pay for hope should not be among them.”
Oakland County Commissioner Charlie Cavell of Ferndale, representing District 19, who has been an advocate for this program at the Board of Commissioners, voted yes for this program when it won final board approval on Tuesday, Oct. 17. Next up, RIP Medical Debt and the county will enter into a contract while the non-profit approaches local hospitals to source qualifying medical debts for abolishment.
“In my 20’s, I was unable to afford insurance and got sick on a mission trip. I had more than $6,000 in medical debt, which kept me from seeing the doctor, building credit, accessing job opportunities because I could not get a car loan, and more,” Cavell said. “Learning from RIP Medical Debt that there are tens of thousands of families in Oakland County going through the same thing I went through, and then having a solution for their situation was a humbling and transformational experience for me, and something that’s been meaningful to bring to my work as a commissioner.”
With support from state and local governments, individual donors, philanthropic organizations, and faith-based organizations, RIP Medical Debt, founded in 2014 by former debt collectors, has acquired and abolished more than $10 billion in medical debt for more than seven million people. To achieve this, they partner with hospitals, health systems, and physician groups to acquire medical debt for abolishment. For more information about RIP Medical Debt, go to www.RIPMedicalDebt.org.
Horticulture industry on the lookout for invasive balsam woolly adelgid
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| For immediate release: October 23, 2023 Program contact: Rob Miller 517-614-0454 Media contact: Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724 MDARD, horticulture industry on the lookout for invasive balsam woolly adelgidLansing, MI – The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is working with the state’s horticulture industry to detect and respond to invasive balsam woolly adelgid, a tiny, sap-feeding insect that attacks true fir trees, including balsam, Fraser and concolor (white) fir. Balsam woolly adelgid has been identified in Kent, Missaukee, and Oceana counties. The site in Kent County was treated and monitoring is ongoing. MDARD is currently working with partner agencies to survey the areas surrounding the populations in Missaukee and Oceana counties. “An educated, vigilant horticulture industry is Michigan’s first line of defense against the spread of invasive species,” said Mike Philip, Director of MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division. “Early detection and response are critical to protecting Michigan’s natural resources and horticulture businesses.” Nearly 1.9 million balsam fir trees populate Michigan’s forests in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula. Fraser and concolor fir trees are not native to Michigan but are often planted on landscapes. Symptoms of balsam woolly adelgid infestation include:
If Michiganders suspect this invasive pest is damaging fir trees, they should take photos, note the location, and report it to the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network or MDARD at [email protected] or call 800-292-3939. For more information on balsam woolly adelgid and other invasive species in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/Invasives. |
Postseason Thoughts
Postseason Thoughts.
Written Sunday October 22nd at 8:40 PM
The postseason matchups are set so here are my postseason thoughts on each of the postseason teams. We’ll talk more on these teams on the podcast.
Harper Woods: The Pioneers have a very interesting district with three proven teams in this district. They will face a very good Croswell-Lexington program on Friday night. The Pioneers will make the trip from Sanilac County down M-25 to I-94 for this matchup. If Harper Woods wins this game then either Marine City or Madison Heights Lamphere awaits but they too would head to Harper Woods. The Pioneers have a lot of their opponents heading to Wayne County for the postseason.
Avondale: The Yellow Jackets have a really interesting district set up. They play Holly which will be a really interesting matchup and if they win that then they should get Walled Lake Western in the district final. I like the draw for Coach Bob Meyer and Avondale. They have a legit shot to do some damage in Division Three.
Groves: I didn’t think that the Falcons would get a four seed for the postseason which happened and to get a rematch with Seaholm no less who they fell 21-14 last week. It should be a very interesting matchup to say the least in the Battle of Birmingham Part Two.
Seaholm: The Maples knew they would see Groves somewhere deep in the postseason. Just didn’t think it would be the first round. Seaholm and Groves are no strangers to deep postseason runs. It’s a tough first round draw for sure in the Battle of Birmingham Part Two.
Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors earned a top seed despite losing to West Bloomfield in week eight. Southfield Arts and Tech has Dearborn Fordson first and if they win that matchup then they would meet most likely Detroit Cass Tech in a district final rematch and possibly the fourth in five meetings. The Warriors are at home for the postseason which always helps.
West Bloomfield: I talked to Tyler Kieft of Civic Center Television and he was curious to see how both the Lakers and Adams have improved heading into their postseason rematch in the Swamp. West Bloomfield won 36-32 in week five. It’s a brutal matchup for the Lakers defensive coordinator taking on the veer. If they win then they will likely head to Sweinhart to play Utica Eisenhower next week.
Adams: I can only imagine how Coach Tony Patritto feels right now. The Highlanders don’t get a home game and they have to head back to “The Swamp” to play West Bloomfield in a 36-32 week five rematch. If they win that then they would likely have to go to Sweinhart in the district finals, that’s a really tough draw for Adams.
Clarkston: The Wolves have really struggled in the last three weeks especially defensively but they did just enough to get a home game in the postseason however it’s against Romeo which is a tough matchup despite their record. The Bulldogs have played a really tough schedule in the MAC Red and they beat Utica Eisenhower. It’s going to be a tough matchup for Clarkston that is for sure.
Oxford: Memories of 2021 still shades Oxford when they upset Clarkston. The Wildcats had to win three games to make the postseason. A lot of credit goes to Luke Johnson and a stout Oxford team up front. They head south to Lake Orion to play the Dragons. It should be a very interesting game between these two arch rivals.
Lake Orion: The Dragons are 9-0 for the fifth time in school history and they have the top spot based on playoff points. They have their three opponents coming to Lake Orion. This is a trap game for Lake Orion taking on Oxford. The Dragons won 38-13 in week three this season. It should be a very interesting game to watch in the Battle of M-24.
at October 22, 2023 No comments:
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Saturday, October 21, 2023
Bloomfield Hills and Adams brings home State Crowns for the 2023-2024 School Year.
Written Saturday October 21st at 7:20 PM
Updated Saturday October 21st at 8:15 PM
The OAA was in full force on Saturday afternoon in Midland for Boys Tennis and Girls Golf.
Tennis
Bloomfield Hills won the Division One State crown with 36 points and it’s back to back after they won it last season. Troy was second with 27 points. Rochester was fourth with 15 points. Troy Athens and Adams were tied for eighth with 10 points. Stoney Creek was 14th with six points.
The Blackhawks had six champions on the day while the Colts and Falcons are also in the hunt as well.
Bloomfield Hills brings the OAA their first State crown of the 2023-2024 season.
Girls Golf
Adams repeated as Division One State Champions in Girls Golf scoring a 669 holding off Brighton by one stroke on Saturday afternoon at Forest Akers West Golf Course.
Rochester was fifth with 695, Oxford was seventh with 730, and Lake Orion was 10th with 735.
The Highlanders are back to back State Champs as mentioned. Congrats to Adams on bringing the league’s second crown of the season.
at October 21, 2023 No comments:
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Boys Soccer Regional Preview.
Written Saturday October 21st at 6:00 PM
Here is my insight heading to the regionals. This article will be updated if History Now host Anthony Taormina does his preview on these two regions.
Region Two @ Grand Blanc
BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs Brighton
OXFORD vs Novi Detroit Catholic Central
THOUGHTS/PROJECTION: This is a very interesting regional. Oxford and Novi Detroit Catholic Central should be a very interesting game. Bloomfield Hills and Brighton is also quite interesting. I’m seeing a Bloomfield Hills vs Novi Detroit Catholic Central regional final with the Shamrocks moving on. PICK: NOVI DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL.
Region Four @ Troy
ADAMS vs TROY ATHENS
Warren Cousino vs Utica Ford II
THOUGHTS/PROJECTION: This should be a very interesting regional. Troy Athens won their very tough district as did Adams as well and they are the defending Division One State Champs. Warren Cousino is the upstart after winning their first district crown in school history. Utica Ford II has a ton of experience and has been in the mix for years. I see this district painted in red and gold. PICK: TROY ATHENS.
The Sammy Playoff Projections
The Sammy Playoff Projections.
Written Saturday October 21st at 10:30 AM
These are my postseason football projections. These aren’t the official State playoffs, they come out tomorrow. Here are my projections. These will be updated after the Saturday games. OAA schools are in CAPS.
Shout out to Goose Poop and Snooze for the postseason maps.
Division One
District 1, Region 1
Holland West Ottawa (54.6) at Rockford (85.6)
Hudsonville (58.1) at Greenville (74.1)
District 2, Region 1
Grand Ledge (57.4) at Davison (82.4)
Grand Blanc (58.2) at CLARKSTON (62.1)
District 1, Region 2
Brighton (58.6) at Northville (78.6)
Novi Detroit Catholic Central (60.3) at Novi (70.6)
District 2, Region 2
Ann Arbor Huron (54.2) at Belleville (84)
Ann Arbor Pioneer (58) at Saline (78.3)
District 3, Region 1
OXFORD (55.5) at LAKE ORION (85.7)
Lapeer (57.4) at ADAMS (62.7)
District 3, Region 2
Utica (53.5) at Utica Eisenhower (78)
Romeo (59.3) at Macomb Dakota (70.7)
District 4, Region 1
Dearborn Fordson (58.3) at WEST BLOOMFIELD (77.5)
Westland John Glenn (70.5) at SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH (75.1)
District 4, Region 2
Sterling Heights Stevenson (58) at Chippewa Valley (77)
Detroit Cass Tech (58.6) at St. Clair Shores Lakeview (62.8)
Division Two
District 1, Region 1
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern (54.8) at Muskegon (69)
Muskegon Reefs Puffer (60.8) at Muskegon Mona Shores (61.4)
District 2, Region 1
Traverse City Central (49.7) at Saginaw Heritage (66.6)
Midland (50.6) at Midland Dow (51.4)
District 1, Region 2
Byron Center (67.1) at Portage Central (73.8)
Portage Northern (68.9) at Caledonia (70.1)
District 2, Region 2
Lansing Everett (48) at East Lansing (67.5)
Milford (59.1) at Dexter (64.7)
District 3, Region 1
Lakeland (60.8) at SEAHOLM (72.8)
GROVES (62.6) at Waterford Mott (65.5)
District 3, Region 2
Livonia Churchill (48.5) at Carlson (73.3)
Livonia Franklin (63 at Allen Park (71.5)
District 4, Region 1
L’Anse Creuse (52.8) at Grosse Pointe South (77.2)
Roseville (60.4) at Port Huron Northern (61)
District 4, Region 2
Warren Cousino (50) at Warren De LaSalle (69.2)
Warren Mott (58.1) at Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit (58.2)
Division Three
District 1, Region 1
Petoskey (47.3) at Mount Pleasant (73.3)
Marquette (49.6) at Gaylord (66.5)
District 2, Region 1
Grand Rapids Northview (46.4) at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (71.8)
Lowell (56.2) at DeWitt (62.1)
District 1, Region 2
Coopersville (55.7) at East Grand Rapids (63.6)
Zeeland East (57.1) at Zeeland West (57.3)
District 2, Region 2
Stevensville Lakeshore (54.8) at Parma Western (63.6)
Battle Creek Harper Creek (52.8) at St. Joseph (58.7)
District 3, Region 1
Bay City Western (47.2) at Fenton (60.8)
Linden (49) at Holly (52.4)
District 3, Region 2
Warren Fitzgerald (46.2) at AVONDALE (68.6)
Grosse Pointe North (51) at Port Huron (61.6)
District 4, Region 1
Detroit Martin Luther King (46.5) at Walled Lake Western (74.3)
Redford Thurston (46.5) at Mason (72.7)
District 4, Region 2
River Rouge (50.3) at Southgate Anderson (65.4)
Trenton (56.8) at Riverview (57.5)
Division Four
District 1, Region 1
Allendale (48.3) at Whitehall (62.1)
Grand Rapids South Christian (50.8) at Spring Lake (55.5)
District 2, Region 1
Edwardsburg (47.4) at Niles (60.5)
Wayland (48.4) at Paw Paw (60.2)
District 1, Region 2
Vicksburg (42.4) at Hastings (60.5)
Big Rapids (49.4) at Ada Forest Hills Eastern (55.7)
District 2, Region 2
Ionia (42.8) at Portland (59.5)
Charlotte (44.2) at Lansing Sexton (56.4)
District 3, Region 1
Lake Fenton (49.7) at Goodrich (64.2)
Haslett (55.2) at Freeland (55.3)
District 3, Region 2
Brandon (47.4) at Marysville (54.7)
Croswell-Lexington (51) at Madison Heights Lamphere (51.8)
District 4, Region 1
Tecumseh (46.6) at Chelsea (64.4)
Adrian (51.6) at Carleton Airport (62.1)
District 4, Region 2
Detroit East English Village Prep (44.2) at HARPER WOODS (64.8)
Dearborn Divine Child (48.1) at Redford Union (59.6)