A new program called Seeds of Relief, launched by Somos Votantes and the Somos Votantes Education Fund, has wiped out medical debt for thousands of Nevadans, including a Las Vegas resident who had more than $4,500 in bills dating back to 2017 and 2019, which have been forgiven. The initiative partnered with Undue Medical Debt to negotiate directly with hospitals and collection agencies, allowing debt to be purchased and eliminated rather than collected.
In its first wave, Seeds of Relief eliminated more than $133 million in medical debt for over 128,000 people in Clark and Washoe counties through this network of hospitals and collectors. The relief covered older debts tied to hospital stays, surgeries, and ambulance services, and was framed as a response to rising costs of living, including health care, fuel, and groceries.
Recipients were notified by letter that their debt had been forgiven, an approach many initially misunderstood. “When I received this letter, the first thing I thought was, ‘Oh, more bills,’” said Yañez, who spoke Spanish through a translator. “So I didn’t pay attention to it.”…