Transforming Medical Debt Relief with Jared Walker - Founder of Dollar For

The Charity Charge Show

In this episode of the Charity Charge Show we chat with Jared Walker, the founder of Dollar For, to discuss the organization's mission to alleviate medical debt through a comprehensive database of hospital charity care policies.

He explains how Dollar Four automates the application process for patients, the challenges of funding through philanthropy, and the importance of partnerships in expanding their reach. The conversation also touches on the legal aspects of medical debt, the potential for new revenue models, and the future vision for the organization.

Takeaways

• Dollar Four created a database of every hospital in the country.
• The organization eliminated $6.9 million in medical debt in April.
• Funding is fully through philanthropy, with no earned revenue model.
• The impact of Dollar Four is measurable and clear to donors.
• Hospitals are motivated to avoid bad press regarding charity care.
• Partnerships with other organizations can enhance outreach.
• There is a significant amount of medical debt within communities.
• The organization aims to enforce policies that hospitals are required to have.
• Focus on providing value to the community to attract donors.
• Future growth plans include raising $20 million over the next four years.

About Dollar For

Dollar For is a national non-profit organization dedicated to tackling the widespread issue of medical debt in the United States. Recognizing that medical debt is a leading cause of financial hardship and even bankruptcy for millions, they focus on a solution that often goes unnoticed and underutilized: hospital charity care.

Their core mission is to make charity care – which nonprofit hospitals are mandated by the Affordable Care Act to provide to lower-income patients – known, easy to access, and fairly applied. Dollar For acts as an advocate for patients, empowering them to navigate the often complex process of applying for financial assistance.

They achieve this through a multi-pronged approach:

• Direct Patient Service: Utilizing technology, Dollar For has developed a system that includes a custom database of hospital policies, a simple eligibility screener, automated application completion, and patient advocates who guide individuals through the process. This direct support has resulted in significant medical debt relief for thousands of patients.
• Systemic Change Advocacy: Beyond individual cases, Dollar For actively works to hold hospitals accountable and push for broader policy changes. They leverage media attention and their unique understanding of both the written policies and their real-world application to inform policy and advocate for improvements in charity care access. Their efforts have already influenced regulations and hospital practices across several states.

In essence, Dollar For bridges the gap between patients struggling with medical bills and the often-obscure avenue of charity care. By simplifying the application process and advocating for systemic improvements, they strive to alleviate the financial burden of medical crises and ensure that a health emergency doesn't lead to financial ruin. Their work has demonstrably reduced stress, improved health outcomes, and enhanced financial stability for the patients they serve.