May 18, 2021 – Chattanooga, TN. The Hamilton County General Sessions Court now provides online dispute resolution (ODR) for medical debt cases. The Court is the first in Tennessee to offer ODR. Here are some highlights from their announcement.
Medical debt is an unwelcome burden with lasting repercussions for millions of Americans each year. Thankfully, the Hamilton County General Sessions Court is at the forefront of a new program that gives those with unpaid medical bills the opportunity to negotiate a better outcome for themselves without ever having to enter a courtroom.
New Online Dispute Resolution Platform Offers Hope to Those With Medical Debt, announcement on the TNCourts.gov website
People who have outstanding medical bills with the Erlanger Health System may use the ODR platform. People may communicate with the health system and trained mediators via the platform. Together, the parties and the mediator will work towards mutual agreement and head off the filing of a court case. The platform is free of charge.
“This is a program that is designed to give you and the health care provider an opportunity to discuss, negotiate and possibly agree on some deal to resolve a medical bill…And best of all it’s completely free, voluntary, and confidential.”
Hamilton County General Sessions Judge Alex McVeagh, quoted in announcement on the TNCourts.gov website
Matterhorn powers the Tennessee Medical Debt ODR system.
Court Innovations Incorporated was chosen to design the platform on which the ODR system operates. Legal Aid attorneys helped craft the language that guides parties through the process, which, along with the platform’s human-centered design, has made the ODR program ideally suited for use by the average person.
From the announcement on the TNCourts.gov website
Honors for Judge McVeagh
In related news, Judge Alex McVeagh was named by the ABA as one of its “2021 On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers”. Congratulations Judge McVeagh! Read more about this award at the Chattanoogan.com.
Learn More
- View the full announcement on the TNCourts.gov website
- Read the coverage on the Chattanoogan.com, the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the Chattanooga Pulse, and via Nashville Public Radio
- Visit the Hamilton County General Sessions Court ODR site
- See more information about ODR for mediation and ODR for civil cases