Medical Debt Elimination

Medical Debt Elimination Initiative in Partnership with Undue Medical Debt

In May 2023 the City of New Orleans entered into an agreement with Undue Medical Debt to provide $1.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the purpose of partnering with healthcare providers to acquire qualifying debt and erase it. Undue Medical Debt leverages these pandemic recovery funds as needed when collaborating with providers.

The New Orleans Health Department manages the initiative, which aims to erase the existing medical debt of eligible New Orleans residents experiencing financial hardship. The medical debt elimination program was unanimously approved by the New Orleans City Council in December 2022. 

Residents who have debt cancelled through this initiative will receive a letter directly from the initiative. A sample letter is available for reference.

Medical Debt Cancelled Through the New Orleans Medical Debt Elimination Initiative

 

Acadian Ambulance

Ochsner Health System

LCMC Health System

Secondary Medical Debt Holders

Number of New Orleans residents impacted

3,011

65,737

6,861

1st round - 5,858

2nd round – 5,147

Amount of debt cancelled

$3.4 million

$58.9 million

$8.5 million

1st round - $6.8 million

2nd round – 7.5 million

Letters mailed to residents

January 2024

July 2024

January 2025

1st round - July 2024

2nd round - Jan 2025


 

 

Contact Us 

Jeanie Donovan
Deputy Director of Population Health & Disease Prevention

(504) 658-2562Email Jeanie Donovan