-Brittany Hennnis-

Cousins!

We expected change to begin when more Black and Brown people were put in positions of authority!

Voting rights activist Stacey Abram and her organization have donated more than $1 million, to erase medical debts of a total of 108,000 people in five states.

The purpose of the donation is to expand Medicaid coverage in the 12 states that have refused to expand health insurance to all poorer adults, NBC reports.

The states that will are set to receive the donation are Georgia, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. $212 million of medical debt will be paid say’s NPR.com.

Lauren Groh- Wargo, CEO of allied group Fair Fight Action and Senior Advisor to the PAC, expressed that paying off medical debt is facet of the group’s advocacy in the 12 states that have refused to expand the health insurance to all poorer adults. “What is so important about this is the tie between Medicaid expansion and just crushing medical debt.”

So far Arizona and Louisiana have expanded Medicaid. Lauren’s group Fair Fight, said letters will be sent to those whose debts have been absolved to notify them. A total of 69,000 people in Georgia medical debt will be forgiven, 27,000 people in Arizona, more than 8,000 people in Louisiana, and between Mississippi and Alabama, 2,000 people as well. Abrams’ organization has raised more than $100 million since 2018 after she lost the governor’s race.

The people of Georgia are waiting for Abrams to go against Kemp again for the position of governor. Georgia residents know; that Stacey is doing everything in her power to add Medicaid expansion to the list of topics that Georgia lawmakers will consider in a special session starting next week to redraw electoral districts.

Abrams quoted in a statement, “I know firsthand, how medical costs and a broken healthcare system put families further and further in debt. Across the sunbelt and in the South, this problem is exacerbated in states like Georgia where failed leaders have callously refused to expand Medicaid, even during a pandemic.”

Change like this is so great to see, especially from someone who is African American. Cousins, are you looking forward to seeing more decision making made by Stacey Abrams?