Lost jobs, lost wages, and mounting medical bills. The pandemic spotlighted overlapping financial and health dilemmas. Senator Chris Van Hollen describes his proposal to prevent healthcare providers from taking drastic steps to collect debt during the pandemic. Then, local United Church of Christ congregations recently wiped out $9 million in outstanding debt, buying bills from collection agencies at a fraction of face value. We speak with Rev. Tim Tutt,senior minister of Westmoreland Congregational in Bethesda, and Rev. Freeman Palmer, conference minister for the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ. Learn more about RIP Medical Debt here.

Lost jobs, lost wages, and mounting medical bills. The pandemic spotlighted overlapping financial and health dilemmas. Senator Chris Van Hollen describes his <a href="https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-reintroduces-legislation-to-prevent-seizure-of-patients-bank-accounts-wages-during-covid-19-pandemic">proposal </a>to prevent healthcare providers from taking drastic steps to collect debt during the pandemic. Then, local United Church of Christ congregations recently wiped out <a href="https://www.ucc.org/ucc-d-c-area-churches-wipe-out-9-million-in-medical-debt-in-four-states/">$9 million in outstanding debt</a>, buying bills from collection agencies at a fraction of face value. We speak with Rev. Tim Tutt, senior minister of <a href="https://www.westmorelanducc.org/">Westmoreland Congregational</a> in Bethesda, and Rev. Freeman Palmer, conference minister for the <a href="http://www.cacucc.org/">Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ</a>. Learn more about RIP Medical Debt <a href="https://ripmedicaldebt.org/">here</a>.

On The Record is co-hosted by Sheilah Kast and Ashley Sterner. Sheilah and Ashley are excited to share conversations with audacious artists, intrepid scientists, community leaders and more. And of course, tales from the beloved Stoop Storytelling Series!

Currently, you'll hear On The Record on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and the full hour of NPR's Morning Edition on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

On The Record is produced by Maureen Harvie and Melissa Gerr. Theme music created by Jon Ehrens. Logo designed by Louis Umerlik.

If you want to share a comment, question, or an idea for an interview you'd like to hear, email us at ontherecord@wypr.org

On The Record is co-hosted by Sheilah Kast and Ashley Sterner. Sheilah and Ashley are excited to share conversations with audacious artists, intrepid scientists, community leaders and more. And of course, tales from the beloved Stoop Storytelling Series!
Currently, you'll hear On The Record on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and the full hour of NPR's Morning Edition on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
On The Record is produced by Maureen Harvie and Melissa Gerr. Theme music created by Jon Ehrens. Logo designed by Louis Umerlik.
If you want to share a comment, question, or an idea for an interview you'd like to hear, email us at <a href="mailto:ontherecord@wypr.org">ontherecord@wypr.org</a>

On The Record

Catch On the Record, hosted by Sheilah Kast, weekdays from 9:30 to 10:00 am, following NPR's Morning Edition. We'll discuss the issues that affect your life and bring you thoughtful and lively conversations with the people who shape those issues -- business people, public officials, scholars, artists, authors, WYPR reporters and other journalists who can take us inside the story. If you want to share a comment, question, or an idea for an interview you'd like to hear, email us at ontherecord@wypr.org

Catch On the Record, hosted by Sheilah Kast, weekdays from 9:30 to 10:00 am, following NPR's Morning Edition. We'll discuss the issues that affect your life and bring you thoughtful and lively conversations with the people who shape those issues -- business people, public officials, scholars, artists, authors, WYPR reporters and other journalists who can take us inside the story. If you want to share a comment, question, or an idea for an interview you'd like to hear, email us at <a href="mailto:ontherecord@wypr.org">ontherecord@wypr.org</a>

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