Working to strengthen community action, promote social change, and improve health, especially for those who are most vulnerable.

FEATURED WORK
TAP Director Testifies Before Congress, May 12, 2010 at the hearing
"Use of Credit Information Beyond Lending: Issues and Reform Proposals" of the House Committee on Financial Services on the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit. The archived webcast, witness list and prepared testimony can be viewed here.

NEW REPORT RELEASED MAY 2010*
"Best Kept Secrets: Are Non-Profit Hospitals Informing Patients About Charity Care Programs?" presents the findings of a survey of non-profit hospitals to see if they are conforming to the AHA guidelines that require them to develop written charity care policies and make them widely available. Download the Report or Read more...

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Innovations Exchange has profiled our Medical Debt Resolution Program
The Innovation Profile describes the program's development, results, and lessons learned. Read more...

The Access Project is Partnering with a Consortium of Non-Profit Organizations led by the Aspen Institute on an Initiative to Develop an On-Line Asset Platform
This platform will serve as a resource for staff at non-profit, social service organizations that provide financial education, coaching and asset development services. It will feature The Access Project's Medical Debt Resolution Program and is expected to be available to the general public in May 2010.

THE ACCESS PROJECT (TAP) IN THE PRESS

July 14, 2010
Medical Credit Cards: Pros and Cons
AARP Bulletin | Read article | by Tamara E. Holmes

June 14, 2010
New Health Law Could Shield Women from Poverty
Womensenews.org | Read article | by Sharon Johnson, WeNews correspondent

May 21, 2010
How to Negotiate Your Medical Bills
WalletPop | Read article | by Lita Epstein

May 17, 2010

Lawmakers Hold Hearing on the Use of Credit Checks in Hiring Decisions
Security Management | Read article | by Teresa Anderson

May 13, 2010

Lawmaker: Purge Record of the Debt Soon After It's Paid
The Columbus Dispatch | Read article | by Jonathan Riskind

May 6, 2010
Study Shows Nonprofit Hospitals Under-Publicize Charity Care
FierceHealthcare | Read article | by Debra Beaulieu

May 5, 2010

Few Tax-exempt Hospitals Offer Details on Charity Care for Needy Patients
HealthLeaders Media | Read article | by John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media

May 5, 2010

Advocacy Groups Say Hospitals Don't Provide Enough Information to Patients About Charity Care
The Columbus Dispatch | Read article | by Suzanne Hoholik

May 5, 2010

Consumer Groups Criticize Hospitals On Publicizing Charity Care
Kaiser Health News | Read article | by Julie Appleby, KHN Staff Writer

March 23, 2010

7 Questions to Lower Health Care Costs
Bankrate.com | Read article | by Vanessa Richardson, Bankrate.com

March 1, 2010

Tips to Prevent Medical Bills from Getting Overdue
LA Times | Read article | by Francesca Lunzer Kritz

January 20, 2010

Senate Upset Foils Democrats' Health Reform Agenda
HealthDay | Read article | by Karen Pallarito, HealthDay Reporter

January 13, 2010
Pelosi Fights for More Low Income Subsidies in Healthcare
U.S. News & World Report | Read article | by Kent Garber

December 28, 2009

Farm Groups Mixed On Benefits Of Reform
hutchnews.com | Read article | by Amy Bickel, The Hutchinson News

LEGISLATIVE ACTION
The Access Project applauds Ohio Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy
for introducing the Medical Debt Relief Act of 2009 (HR 3421). This legislation addresses the widespread problem of medical debt on credit reports. The Act would require the removal from a consumer's credit report of medical accounts that have been fully paid within 30 days of being settled. The proposal could provide relief to millions of Americans who have had their credit scores lowered due to medical accounts that have been fully paid off yet can remain on a credit report for up to seven years. Read more, including Rep. Kilroy's responses to questions posed to her by TAP...

TAP Executive Director Mark Rukavina posts on the New America Foundation's blog about the Medical Debt Relief Act.

Press: 6/7/2010, Dallas Morning News, "Healthy Idea: Separating Medical Debt From Other Debt" by columnist Pamela Yip

MOVIE RELEASE
Do No Harm, a new documentary produced by Kindling Group,
tells the story of a two reluctant whistleblowers in a small Georgia town who endure relentless attacks as they struggle to draw national attention to hospital corruption and the plight of the uninsured. Visit the Do No Harm website