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Treasurer, advocates press for $1M to expand medical‑debt relief program that has erased $7M so far
Summary
Supporters urged the Finance Committee to appropriate $1 million to the state's medical debt relief program created in 2024; witnesses said $50,000 forgiven $7 million in medical debt for nearly 3,000 Rhode Islanders and argued additional funding would continue that leverage and mitigate high personal financial harms.
Representative Shellcross-Smith and others urged the House Finance Committee to add $1 million to the state medical debt relief program established last year.
Proponents, including a witness from the Office of the General Treasurer, said the program has already used a relatively small state investment to eliminate roughly $7 million in medical debt for nearly 3,000 Rhode Island residents. Attorney Cravie from the treasurer's office — who appeared to answer technical questions — told the committee the program targets households at or below 400% of the federal poverty line or where medical debt is at least 5% of net income.
SEIU 1199 and other labor witnesses described concrete cases of working Rhode Islanders hit by medical bills after insurance failures or gaps; the union said funding the program is a high‑return investment that restores balance to workers who keep the state's health system functioning.
Proponents requested the committee include the $1 million appropriation in the coming budget; no committee action was taken during the hearing and advocates asked lawmakers to consider the program's early results when weighing state investments.
