On Friday, January 16th, Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar hosted a Facebook Live Virtual Town Hall. The town hall discussed the completed Medical Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) that Cook County implemented in 2022 and closed in 2025, though further rounds of medical debt relief will continue in the future. Joining Commissioner Aguilar was Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle and Deputy Chief of Staff for the President’s Health Administration Matt Richards. After remarks from President Preckwinkle, Matt Richards delivered a presentation that gave an overview of the program and the impact it has had on Cook County residents. Cook County’s Medical Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) has successfully abolished $664,744,470.53 in medical debt, benefiting 556,815 Cook County residents since the program launched in 2022. By leveraging $9 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, Cook County is both reducing financial strain and addressing a critical barrier to health and economic stability. As the first local government to partner with Undue Medical Debt, the County set a national example for how public funds can be effectively used to deliver immediate, meaningful relief. To watch the town hall, please visit www.facebook.com/commissionerfrankjaguilar