A Kentucky town this week became the first in the state to cancel millions of dollars in medical debt for more than 6,000 residents.
Lexington Vice Mayor Dan Wu announced on Tuesday that over $12.6 million in medical debt has been erased for 6,484 people in Fayette County, following the lead of a growing number of cities and states that have carried out similar efforts in collaboration with Undue Medical Debt.
“Medical debt relief in America is a huge and growing problem, and that problem is especially acute here in Kentucky, as we are one of the poorest and sickest states in the nation,” the mayor said during a press conference. “Folks who carry the burden of unpaid medical debt suffer financial hardship, mental strain, poor credit scores, and worst of all, often do not seek much-needed medical care.”…