Lawmakers consider proposal to eliminate certain medical debt

HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) - There is a push to cancel billions of dollars in medical debt in Connecticut.

Gov. Ned Lamont plans on Thursday morning at the Connecticut Institute for Primary Care Innovation to unveil the details of a plan.

A news conference was scheduled for 11 a.m.

Lamont proposed that the state use $20 million in federal COVID relief money to contract a non-profit that buys medical debt.

That non-profit would then negotiate with hospitals to buy medical debt at a fraction of its’ original cost.

The plan could eliminate up to $2 billion in debt, and there would be no application process to cancel the debt.

Lamont said it would help put millions of dollars back into the economy and provide relief to those who need it most.

However, critics on the other side of the aisle questioned whether the state would be purchasing uncollectable debt anyway.

The General Assembly is considering the proposal.

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