MacKenzie Scott continues to make medical debt relief a priority in her mysterious giving. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * MacKenzie Scott continues to make medical debt relief a priority in her mysterious giving. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? MacKenzie Scott continues to make medical debt relief a priority in her mysterious giving. This week, Undue Medical Debt, formerly RIP Medical Debt, announced it had received a rare third gift — $50 million — from the billionaire philanthropist, signaling her satisfaction with the group’s efforts to purchase medical debt in bulk from hospitals and debt collectors. Scott has donated a total of $130 million to the organization since 2020. Medical debt is increasing despite most of the U.S. population having some form of medical insurance. Nearly 100 million people are unable to pay their medical bills, according to Third Way, a left-leaning national think tank. Overall, Americans owe about $220 billion in medical debt, with historically disadvantaged groups shouldering the bulk of the burden. Lower-income people, people with disabilities, middle-aged adults, Black people, the uninsured, and people living in rural areas are among the groups most likely to be affected by medical debt, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Undue Medical Debt buys debt at a discounted price, estimating that it erases about $100 in debt for each $1 donated. The group also collaborates with policymakers to encourage the adoption of measures to curb what people owe for medical care. Scott first gave Undue Medical Debt a $50 million donation in 2020, followed by a $30 million donation in 2022. With that money, the group has relieved nearly $15 billion in debt for more than 9 million people, CEO Allison Sesso said. That’s a significant leap from the $1 billion in debt relieved from 2014 to 2019, she noted. “I’m frankly astounded by this most recent gift from MacKenzie Scott and feel proud to be a steward of these funds as we continue the essential work of dismantling the yoke of medical debt that’s burdening far too many families in this country,” said Sesso. The continued funding has allowed Sesso “to not have to worry about my next dollar,” she said, and “think more strategically about the narrative around medical debt — she has helped us push that conversation.” Undue Medical Debt was started in 2014 by two former debt collection executives, Jerry Ashton and Craig Antico, who were inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement’s advocacy for debt relief. Growth initially was slow. But with Scott’s gifts, the nonprofit has been able to staff up, produce more research, and develop relationships with policymakers who have pushed for changes to hospital billing practices to relieve debt and prevent people from accumulating it in the first place, Sesso said. Undue Medical Debt’s public policy arm has worked with lawmakers in North Carolina, which in July became the first state to offer additional Medicaid payments to hospitals that agree to adopt debt relief measures, she said. The policy change followed the publication of a 2023 report from Duke University, which found that one in five families in the state had been forced into collections proceedings because of medical debt. Since 2020, the organization’s staff has grown from three to about 40, Sesso said. Those hires included an anthropologist who collects stories from people set back by medical debt to inform the group’s research and advocacy work. Scott’s gifts also have helped improve Undue Medical Debt’s technology to identify people eligible for debt relief and to find hospitals from which it can purchase medical debt, among other things, Sesso said. “This coming year, because of this MacKenzie Scott grant, we’ll be able to add more people, making sure that we can support that growth on an ongoing basis,” Sesso said. Few repeat grantees Few organizations have received more than one gift from Scott. Other multi-grant recipients include Blue Meridian, an intermediary group that has directed billions of dollars to nonprofits around the world, and GiveDirectly, which provides no-strings-attached cash payments to low-income people globally. GiveDirectly has received $125 million from Scott since 2020. Blue Meridian has not disclosed amounts for the four gifts it’s received since 2019. Scott’s contributions to those two organizations were for specific causes like GiveDirectly’s U.S. poverty relief fund, said Christina Im, a senior research analyst at the Center for Effective Philanthropy. In the case of Undue Medical Debt, the timing of Scott’s first gifts in 2020 and 2022 seemed to correspond with COVID-relief efforts, she said. Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is worth an estimated $32 billion but provides few details about her grantmaking decisions. Without further information, it’s hard to know what prompted this third donation to Undue Medical Debt, but Scott has said in public statements that she wants to help those who are most in need and bear the brunt of societal ills, said Elisha Smith Arrillaga, the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s vice president for research. “I have not seen a lot of other folks funding in this area,” Smith Arrillaga added. Anger over health care costs Scott’s latest gift to Undue Medical Debt comes amid national debates about medical insurance and the cost of medical treatments. The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4 in Midtown Manhattan has heightened these conversations, with some lionizing the man who allegedly committed the crime. “That’s no way to get change, full stop,” Sesso said in reference to Thompson’s murder. “But I think the anger around insurance companies and having access to care is very clear.” The U.S. has one of the most expensive health care systems in the world. And the amount of medical debt carried by individuals seems to be increasing, noted Adam Searing, a public interest attorney and associate professor at Georgetown University, where he focuses on Medicaid and other health coverage programs. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Searing previously served for 17 years as director of the Health Access Coalition at the nonprofit North Carolina Justice Center, advocating for the uninsured and underinsured. During that time, he heard from people losing their homes due to liens from hospitals. Sometimes those liens could be delayed, but it still meant that the debtors couldn’t pass those homes along to their children or grandchildren, he said. “Those stories stuck with me,” he said. “It really has an impact on families.” Relieving debt allows people to get their lives back on track and become financially secure after a major illness or series of expensive bills, Searing said. For philanthropists, it’s also a cause that is largely nonpartisan. Scott shining a spotlight on the issue is undoubtedly “a good thing,” he said. “I think it will have a big effect.” _____ Stephanie Beasley is a senior writer at the Chronicle of Philanthropy. This article was provided to The Associated Press by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as part of a partnership to cover philanthropy and nonprofits supported by the Lilly Endowment Inc. The Chronicle is solely responsible for the content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. Advertisement AdvertisementLAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Andrej Jakimovski converted an off-balance layup with 8 seconds left, and Colorado handed No. 2 UConn its second loss in two days at the Maui Invitational, beating the two-time defending national champion 73-72 on Tuesday. A day after a 99-97 overtime loss to Memphis that left Huskies coach Dan Hurley livid about the officiating, UConn (4-2) couldn't shake the unranked Buffaloes (5-1), who shot 62.5% in the second half. With Colorado trailing 72-71 in the closing seconds, Jakimovski drove to his right and absorbed contact from UConn’s Liam McNeeley. He tossed the ball toward the glass and the shot was good as he fell to the floor. Hassan Diarra missed a 3-pointer just ahead of the buzzer for UConn. Elijah Malone and Julian Hammond III scored 16 points each for Colorado, and Jakimovski had 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Huskies led 40-32 at halftime and by nine points early in the second half, but Colorado quickly closed that gap. McNeeley led UConn with 20 points. UConn: Hurley's squad is facing its first adversity in quite a while. The Huskies arrived on Maui with a 17-game winning streak that dated to February. Colorado: The Buffaloes were held to season lows in points (56) and field goal percentage (37%) in a 16-point loss to Michigan State on Monday but shot 51.1% overall and 56.3% (9 of 16) from 3-point range against the Huskies. Hurley called timeout to set up the Huskies' final possession, but the Buffs forced them to take a contested 3. Colorado had a 28-26 rebounding advantage after being out-rebounded 42-29 by Michigan State. Colorado will play the Iowa-Dayton winner in the fifth-place game on Wednesday. UConn will play the loser of that matchup in the seventh-place game. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball .
In a heartfelt ceremony at the city commission meeting, Mayor Robert Blythe announced December 10 as Kham’s Club Awareness Day, honoring the vital role of the non-profit organization in supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. “Autism is a complex neurological condition that impacts social interaction, communication, and behavior,” Mayor Blythe stated as he read the proclamation. He emphasized the significance of understanding ASD, noting that in the United States, one in every 36 children is diagnosed with some form of autism. “Individuals with autism possess unique strengths and abilities that enrich our communities, and inclusivity is essential to fostering a society that respects everyone,” he added. Kham’s Club has emerged as a leader in promoting awareness, providing resources, and advocating for those affected by autism and their families in Richmond. Through specialized programs, educational outreach, and community initiatives, the organization has made a considerable impact on the lives of those living with autism. Commissioner Tammy Cole expressed her pride in the accomplishments of Kham’s Club, saying, “I was able to see some of the things that Kham’s Club has been able to do, and I am so thankful to have them at the commission meeting to receive this proclamation.” The city acknowledges the importance of collaboration with organizations like Kham’s Club in breaking down barriers and fostering a deeper understanding of autism. Kent Hensley, Kham’s father, of Kham’s Club, remarked, “It’s our mission to drive awareness, provide opportunities, and promote inclusiveness. It starts with something as simple as a proclamation, which opens the door for more conversations and allows us to reach out and assist the many families in our community who are in need.” The city of Richmond stands united in its commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all its residents, recognizing the valuable contributions of individuals with autism.
NDP will not support Liberal GST holiday bill unless rebate expanded: SinghBriefly | Bennet touts $270 million funding for Colorado's military bases, personnel
As No. 16 Colorado prepares to finish out the regular season against Oklahoma State this week, NFL personnel appear to be paying close attention to the Buffaloes' draft-eligible prospects. Deion Sanders' Buffaloes may have a pair of top five 2025 NFL draft selections, as star quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter continue to be highly regarded by draft experts. According to Athlon Sports' latest mock draft , Hunter (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Sanders (Tennessee Titans) are taken off the board with the first two overall picks. Hunter leads the Big 12 in receptions (82) and receiving touchdowns (11) while leading Colorado in interceptions (3) and pass breakups (9). Sanders sits second in the country in passing touchdowns (30) and fifth in passing yards (3,488). © Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images Sanders, a senior, plans to graduate in the winter and prepare for the NFL draft. He passed up that opportunity in 2023 and has seemingly benefited from the decision after putting together a career year. In an appearance in a video created by Deion Sanders Jr . on Tuesday, New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen is seen speaking with Deion Sanders off to the side of a Colorado practice. Schoen and the Giants recently released franchise quarterback Daniel Jones, who signed a four-year, $160 million deal in March of 2023. New York (2-9) initiated the change at the position after the Giants continued to struggle offensively this season. New York Giants Gm Joe Schoen was at Colorado Practice today 👀 🎥 : @DeionSandersJr pic.twitter.com/wwcpciQgaY The Giants are expected to be one of the few teams at the top of the draft who will be in the hunt for their next franchise quarterback. In the meantime, New York has turned to former undrafted free agent Tommy DeVito, who saw time last season with Jones recovering from a knee injury. Sanders could be the answer for Schoen's Giants, who rank 28th in the league with just 2,067 passing yards through 11 games. Sanders (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) has amassed 6,718 passing yards with 57 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in two years with the Buffaloes after transferring from Jackson State. The Buffaloes (8-3) will attempt to keep their Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff hopes alive on Friday as they take on Oklahoma State (3-8). Kickoff is set for noon ET (ABC).