A bipartisan group of state legislators have re-introduced a proposal to create a medical debt relief program that could erase hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid medical bills. But if a similar program in the City of Pittsburgh is any indication, it’s not guaranteed that Pittsburgh-area residents would benefit.
Rep. Arvind Venkat (D-North Hills) is the prime sponsor of the Pennsylvania Medical Debt Relief Program. As a Pittsburgh-based emergency room physician, Venkat said mounting medical debt is more than just a financial nightmare, it also “keeps patients from seeking necessary care.”
“I’ve personally seen patients who’ve gotten very sick or even died as a result of delaying care…
