Ohio
A city and county in Ohio just teamed up to wipe out up to $240 million in crushing medical debt for residents by buying it at a fraction of the cost
Some fortunate Ohio residents might be getting some excellent news about their medical debt.
On Wednesday, the council of Toledo authorised a proposal giving $800,000 to wipe out the medical debt of its residents. The measure was authorised after the town was joined by commissioners from Lucas County, which incorporates Toledo, who mentioned the county would contribute $800,000 to the debt forgiveness effort. That introduced the full to $1.6 million, which is anticipated to eradicate as much as $240 million in medical debt for residents, Toledo councilwoman Michele Grim advised Fortune.
“Medical debt can occur to anybody,” mentioned Grim, who spearheaded the measure. “It’s the main explanation for chapter and analysis finds it harms housing and meals safety and worsens well being outcomes. Our initiative will assist a few of our most susceptible residents in addition to working class and center class households.”
Toledo is utilizing $800,000 they’re getting from the American Rescue Plan Act, President Joe Biden’s financial plan geared towards offering emergency funding and reduction for these recovering from the pandemic, to purchase their residents’ debt via RIP Medical Debt, a New York-based nonprofit group that focuses on precisely these kind of purchases.
Shopping for medical debt at a reduced price after which forgiving a person’s debt has gained some traction over the previous few years. Debt is commonly offered for pennies on the greenback resulting from an individual’s lack of ability to pay. Round 41% of U.S. adults have some medical or dental debt, in accordance with the Kaiser Household Basis, a well being care nonprofit, in a report from July of this yr. Varied organizations have engaged in shopping for and forgiving medical debt, however the technique is much less typically seen from a metropolis or state authorities.
Prepare dinner County in Illinois, which incorporates Chicago, has additionally partnered with RIP Medical Debt utilizing $12 million of its federal funds, in order that the nonprofit may negotiate the acquisition of over $1 billion in medical debt for the county’s residents and cancel it.
“Due to our mannequin, and the way in which medical debt is purchased and offered within the U.S., we’re positioned to stretch authorities funds even farther,” Allison Sesso, RIP Medical Debt’s CEO and president, advised Fortune. “One greenback into this system abolishes on common $100 of medical debt.”
“Toledo is the primary metropolis to approve a community-scale medical debt reduction initiative, partnering with the nationwide charity RIP Medical Debt,” Grim advised Fortune.
However Ohio’s county-wide debt forgiveness isn’t a achieved deal but, and residents’ medical debt gained’t disappear in a single day.
Shifting ahead, Grim mentioned that when Toledo and Lucas County formally enter right into a contract with RIP Medical Debt, it can use the funds to buy debt from native healthcare suppliers. And as soon as the debt is bought, letters can be despatched to those that certified, informing them their debt has been canceled. She didn’t make clear additional which residents will qualify.
“Washington could not have a plan for medical debt reduction however Toledo, Ohio does. I hope our effort will develop into a mannequin for different communities throughout the nation,” Grim mentioned.
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Sales for license plates featuring Dolly Parton’s face began Monday for $25. All proceeds will go to fund her Imagination Library
Watch: Dolly Parton visits Columbus to promote Imagination Library
Dolly Parton sang a little and told a few jokes at a Tuesday luncheon in Columbus
The Columbus Dispatch
Fans of country music legend Dolly Parton can show off their pride for the singer with a new Ohio license plate.
Ohio drivers can now purchase license plates featuring Parton for $25. The money from each plate will go to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, a charity that gives children ages 5 and younger a free book each month. The state began selling the plates Monday.
Specifically, the funds will go to the purchaser’s local county program of the library, which it says will pay for mailing a child 12 books, enough for an entire year. Ohio is the second state to offer a license plate supporting the library after Parton’s home state of Tennessee.
First lady Fran DeWine has focused on expanding the Imagination Library in Ohio since her husband Gov. Mike DeWine took office in 2019. She was inspired when she saw her grandchildren receive books through the program and by 2020, it had expanded to all of Ohio’s 88 counties.
“I’m excited to see Ohio as the second state to offer a specialty Dolly Parton license plate to support her program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, in Ohio,” Fran DeWine said in a press release. “With each purchase, $25 will go back to supporting the local program, helping to ensure the program remains available to all families in Ohio.”
The plates are available to purchase online at OPlates.com or in-person at a local deputy registrar license agency.
Gov. DeWine signed House Bill 315 which included the Parton Plates on Jan. 2. The original bill, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, received unanimous yes votes in both chambers before the license plate language was put into the larger HB 315.
Donovan Hunt is a fellow in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism’s Statehouse News Bureau.
Cotton Bowl: Reporter reactions to Ohio State vs. Texas Longhorns
Ohio State football beat writers Bill Rabinowitz and Joey Kaufman react to the Buckeyes’ 28-14 win over the Texas Longhorns in the 2025 Cotton Bowl.
Jeremiah Smith has taken his first season at Ohio State by storm, putting the star freshman on pace to be one of the Buckeyes’ top wide receivers of all time — and potentially the No. 1 overall pick of the NFL draft by the time he is done in Columbus.
In order to ensure that, Smith’s family has taken out permanent total disability insurance (PTD) ahead of the College Football Playoff, according to a report from CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd.
Smith is not eligible to declare for the draft until after his junior year at Ohio State, which would make the 2027 NFL draft the earliest he could leave. His insurance lasts until Aug. 1, 2027 or when he signs an NFL contract — whichever comes first — per Dodd.
Per Dodd, Smith’s insurance policy protects him from a career-ending injury both on and off the field, and is with Leverage Disability and Life Insurance, a Southern California-based athlete insurance firm. He does not have loss of draft value (LOV) coverage as part of his policy, per Dodd.
“If this kid steps off the curb and gets hit by a car, he’s covered,” Greenspoon Marder law firm’s head of insurance recovery Richard Giller told CBS Sports.
Dodd, citing sources, reported it is rare for freshmen to receive permanent total disability insurance. In addition, Dodd reported Smith’s premiums cost is $7,500-$8,000 per million of coverage, citing additional sources.
A player receiving insurance has become more common for players over the years, especially in bowl games. A most recent example is Colorado taking out full insurance for its players, including Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28.
Outside of a quiet CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal against Texas, against whom he finished with just one catch for 3 yards on three targets, Smith has impressed during the Buckeyes’ CFP championship run.
In the Buckeyes’ first two CFP games against Tennessee and Oregon, Smith combined for 290 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 13 catches. Smith enters Monday’s CFP championship vs. No. 7 Notre Dame with 1,227 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns on 71 catches on the season.
Shortly after Ohio State’s win over Oregon, ESPN football analyst Dan Orlovsky said if Smith were eligible for April’s NFL draft, he would be the No. 1 pick and “it wouldn’t even be close.”
“He would easily be the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft,” Orlovsky said on Jan. 2. “You will have teams in two years, for that ’27 draft, tanking for him.”
No. 8 Ohio State will play No. 7 Notre Dame in the CFP championship on Jan. 20. The Buckeyes opened up as a -9.5 point early favorite on BetMGM.
The Big Ten Conference grind is never easy, as the Wisconsin women are finding out right now.
Coming off a tough loss to Maryland, the Badgers (10-7, 1-5) return to the court Thursday night vs. Ohio State. Tip is set for 8 p.m. Central time with the game streaming live on Peacock.
This makes the second straight league opponent that Wisconsin has hosted, as they played even with the Terps over the weekend for 30 minutes. A difficult fourth by the Badgers allowed Maryland to secure the win.
Serah Williams continued her strong season, scoring 24 points to lead the way. She averages 18.5 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Ohio State (16-0, 5-0) is coming off a nine-point win over Oregon and also holds league victories over Illinois and Michigan. They are paced by Cotie McMahon, who is one of five players averaging double figures.
The ESPN BPI gives Ohio State a 96 percent chance to win the game.
Here are details on how to watch Wisconsin vs. Ohio State on Thursday, Jan. 16:
Who: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State in Big Ten Conference women’s basketball action
When: 8 p.m CT | Thursday, January 16
Where: Kohl Center | Madison, Wisconsin
Live Stream: Stream Wisconsin vs. Ohio State live on fuboTV (Start your free trial)
TV Channel: Peacock
Our Prediction: Ohio State 88, Wisconsin 65
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