Background:

The Atrius Health Equity Foundation aims to close the gap in life expectancy across neighborhoods in Eastern Massachusetts. Medical debt hurts families economically and impedes access to care. What’s more, it disproportionately affects communities of color. Statewide, 20% of Black residents and 16% of Hispanic residents report that someone in their family has medical debt, compared with 12% of White residents. Medical debt is also projected to increase, due to federal policy changes enacted in 2025. With 1 in 8 Massachusetts residents facing this burden, the Foundation is dedicating over $10 million over five years to alleviate medical debt in Eastern Massachusetts. With this funding, we aim to relieve nearly half a billion dollars in debt, on behalf of low and middle income residents of Eastern Massachusetts. 

Under this initiative, the Foundation is currently funding the following organizations:

• Undue Medical Debt is a national non-profit organization that acquires and abolishes medical debt from health care providers for people with low to moderate incomes (below 400% of the Federal Poverty Line). Since its founding in 2014, Undue Medical Debt has acquired and abolished $22 billion in medical debt for 15 million individuals.

• Health Law Advocates (HLA) is a non-profit public interest law firm in Massachusetts and the state’s leading provider of pro bono legal representation to residents with low incomes experiencing difficulty accessing or paying for needed medical services. HLA represents consumers who are being pursued by providers and collectors for unaffordable and sometimes incorrect medical bills.

• Financial Opportunity Centers: These organizations play a vital role in promoting the financial well-being of community members by providing financial counseling, education and advocacy. As part of this program, HLA is training Lawrence Community Works and The Neighborhood Developers’ CONNECT staff to identify and support clients who are facing medical debt.

  • Lawrence CommunityWorks, Inc. (LCW) is a community development corporation founded in 1986 that weaves together community planning, organizing, and asset-building efforts with high-quality affordable housing and commercial development to create vibrant neighborhoods and empowered residents. LCW helps people build assets through homeownership, education and training, and financial planning and counseling.

  • The Neighborhood Developers (TND) is a community development corporation founded in 1978, which serves Chelsea, Revere, and Everett. TND develops and preserves affordable housing and provides services to help clients gain economic independence and self-sufficiency. The CONNECT financial opportunity center at TND offers financial and career coaching, free tax prep, and referrals to education and training opportunities, among other supports.

• Health Care For All (HCFA) is a non-profit organization and the leading state-wide consumer health advocacy organization in Massachusetts. HCFA is working with a diverse set of stakeholders, including community-based organizations (CBOs), to develop and secure policy solutions to permanently reduce the burden of medical debt in Massachusetts. HCFA is currently partnering with the Brazilian-American Center (BRACE), Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell, Immigrants’ Assistance Center, Pinnacle Partnerships and Women Encouraging Empowerment.

We believe strongly in the power of cross-sectoral collaboration. By uniting organizations working on wealth building with health policy and law experts, we are growing a powerful coalition to eliminate medical debt in Eastern Massachusetts.