The letters are informing more than 300,000 residents that some, if not all, of their medical debt will be forgiven. All told, the hospitals are wiping clean about $335 million in medical debt for nearly one-third of the city's population. The Columbus City Council first approved the plan on October 16 after months of research and planning. The plan was made together with the Central Ohio Hospital Council, which represents four major hospital systems in the region. Cook County, Illinois, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have all implemented similar plans to provide medical debt relief.

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Persons: Joe Biden's, Pro Tem Rob Dorans, Dorans, Jeff Klingler, Columbus, Klingler, Andrea Organizations: Rescue Plan, Morning, Columbus City Council, City, Pro Tem, Central Ohio Hospital Council, Associated Press, American Rescue, Ohio State University Locations: Columbus , Ohio, Columbus, New York, Ohio, Toledo, United States, Cook County , Illinois, New Orleans , Louisiana, Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania, Franklin County