ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The Orange County Commission is looking to pay off medical debt held by 154,593 residents using federal funds.
However, commissioners want to make sure they’re doing it the right way.
That’s why they delayed a vote on the medical debt relief plan at a June 18 meeting.
The county plans to use $4.5 million in federal funding to provide medical debt relief to eligible Orange County residents.
District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson has concerns, though.
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“What it looks like from your presentation and from the briefing sheet, we’re dealing only with providers. We’re not dealing with residents that are getting the bills and the calls, and that worries me,” Commissioner Wilson said during the meeting.
The county is considering working with Undue Medical Debt, formerly known as RIP Medical Debt.
It’s a national nonprofit that helps pay medical bills.
Syd Davis, an elder at Winter Park Presbyterian Church, said her congregation started working with the organization back in 2021.
Together, they alleviated burdens from people in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
“We raised $15,000 (and) paid off a little over $3 million with their debt in those three counties,” she said.
Davis explained how the non-profit used their donations.
“You give your money to them, they actually have companies that collect the money, go to debt collectors, find out what those debt collectors are willing to sell to them. They buy it. It sits in a pool that they then pay off,” Davis said.
She said the non-profit relayed “thank you” messages from the grateful patients to the church.
“I think it’s the most fantastic organization around because it is making a real effort to touch a debt that people don’t necessarily have a choice in getting,” Davis said.
She hopes Orange County chooses to move forward with the initiative to help more people burdened by debt.
The next step for the commission is to have a meeting with Undue Medical Debt.
The commissioners are hoping to get a better explanation of how the medical debt will be identified.
“I want to make sure our residents see that ultimately those credit reports get some alleviation,” Wilson said during the meeting.
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