MCRC in the News
Take the homeowner's and renter's property tax credit
Maryland homeowners and renters can put $1,000 back in their pocket each year by applying for the property tax credit. MCRC wants to make sure all those eligible have access. Watch Financial Counselor, Jamila Blake, share what you need to know. Call 443-961-6220 or visit marylandtaxcredit.com to see if you are eligible.
Watch the interview here
HOW TO GET RID OF MEDICAL DEBT — OR AVOID IT IN THE FIRST PLACE
Medical billing and health insurance systems in the U.S. are complex, and many patients have difficulty navigating them. Economic Action Maryland's Executive Director, Marceline White, is quoted on NPR sharing her insights on how to avoid and manage medical debt.
Helping Seniors Fight Economic Insecurity
Economic insecurity is a daily reality for thousands of older adults in Maryland living on fixed incomes and struggling to meet their obligations each month. MCRC’s SOAR Financial Counselor, Jamila Blake, is featured in The Baltimore Times discussing the work she does to aid and advocate for Maryland’s Older Adults.
Letters Sent to Governor Hogan and Chief Judge Barbera Urging Stronger Consumer Protections
MCRC sent letters, cosigned by more than 20 advocacy organizations across the state, to Governor Hogan and Maryland Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera. The letters request that protections are put in place for residents who have received stimulus checks and may be facing wage garnishments and other post-judgment collections during the public health crisis.
We've asked that post-judgment collections be postponed so that the the $1,200 checks made available by the federal government serve their intended purpose.
Read the letter to Governor Hogan here
Read the letter to Chief Judge Barbera here
Read the Baltimore Sun article here
Expanding Access to Medical Financial Assistance Policies: MCRC’s legislation in the news
MCRC helped pass HB1420/SB875 sponsored by Del. Robbyn Lewis & Sen. Brian Feldman which expands financial assistance policies so more households can receive free and discounted care at hospitals across the state. The legislation will expand eligibility for free or discounted hospital care to households between 200-500% of the federal poverty guidelines; require that hospitals provide more expansive notice of financial assistance policies and ensure that those notices are clear, accessible, and in a patient's preferred language; reduce duplicative processes to apply for financial assistance policies; and, expand protections for patients through the Maryland Consumer Protection Act. This legislation will assist the more than 25% of Maryland households who struggle financially and may now be eligible for discounted hospital care.
Read The Daily Record’s coverage of the legislation here.
First in the Nation: Coverage of MCRC’s student protection legislation
Maryland is poised to become the first state to limit the revenue for-profit colleges can receive from enrolling veterans. MCRC and our coalition partners worked hard to pass this bill. Now, we're the first state in the country to do so! Thanks to the leadership of Del. Pat Young, Sen. Arthur Ellis, Sen. Shelly Hettleman, Sen. Paul Pinsky for getting these bills through this crazy, shortened General Assembly.
Read the Washington Post article here.
MCRC’s Medical Debt legislation in the news
Following a Baltimore Sun publication, MCRC, National Nurses United, The Coalition for a Humane Hopkins, and the Maryland AFL-CIO joined Delegate Robbyn Lewis and Lorig Charkoudian for a press event the morning of Friday the 28th of February. Together with our partners, MCRC has worked to build legislation that increases protections for medical patients from medical debt collections and lawsuits and expands access to financial assistance policies.
The press event was covered by:
Supporting the Veterans Education Protection Act
Yesterday, Tuesday February 4th, Senators in the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs and Delegates in the House Appropriations committees heard the Veterans’ Education Protection Act (SB 294 / HB 593), which closes this loophole and protects students from predatory practices. Thanks to Sen. Ellis and Del. Young for their leadership on these bills.
Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition, Maryland Military Coalition, the American Legion, Job Opportunities Taskforce (JOTF), The Century Foundation, the Office of the Attorney General, legislators, and other advocates were there in support of the bill.
Click here to read the WMAR article on this bill.
Property Tax and Renter Tax Credit
Francine Hyman, one of MCRC’s SOAR financial counselors, talked with Fox news about tax credits Marylanders might qualify for this tax season. You can find out if you are eligible for the homeowner’s or renter’s tax credit by visiting www.marylandtaxcredit.com or calling 443-961-6220.
Watch the interview here.
Photo by Brooks DuBose
debts put some marylanders in jail
While Maryland’s constitution outlaws “debtors’ prisons,” it is clear to consumer advocates that low-income Marylanders can still go to jail for small debts.
“We’re talking about people who have a very thin safety net or there are huge holes in it. There are lots of ways to do this that would actually support the people that are really living at the economic margins. And we’re doing it in the most punitive, Draconian way instead,” [MCRC's Executive Director Marceline] White said, with regards to wage garnishments and body attachments.
Read more from the Maryland Reporter about our work on this issue by clicking here.
Maryland bills would tighten for-profit college regulation amid Trump rollback
In the 2019 session, Maryland became the first state in the nation to pass legislation to ensure that for-profit colleges cannot masquerade as nonprofits in order to deceive students and evade state regulations.
The legislation, sponsored by Senator Paul Pinsky and Delegate Shelly Hettleman, protects Maryland students from the rising trend of “covert for-profits.”
Click here to read more from the Washington Post about our fight to regulate this predatory industry and protect students from high-debt, low-return colleges and career training programs.
Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post
Bill prevents Baltimore from placing liens against properties over unpaid water debt
In the 2019 session MCRC worked with partners to help pass legislation that removes water bills from the tax sale process in Baltimore City. Prior to this year, a homeowner or renter could lose their home over an unpaid water bill. Each year, approximately 1,000 properties were sent to tax sale for water debt, including some churches.
Senator Mary Washington and Delegate Nick Mosby led the fight in the General Assembly to end this harmful practice.
Read more from the Baltimore Sun by clicking here.