Are local governments using ARPA recovery funds to advance equity?
In July 2022, Cook County, Illinois allocated $12 million in ARPA funds to eliminate up to $1 billion in medical debt, launching a policy trend that now stretches from California to Florida. Explore our interactive map documenting how these efforts have abolished nearly $11 billion in debt for more than 6 million people as of October 2025.
Medical Debt Elimination Policy TrackerSearch Locations
Location Type
Search ARPA Equity Assessments
Search and view the equity assessments of cities and counties across the United States.
Compare ARPA Equity Assessments
Compare how 170 large cities and counties performed on our equity assessment, which included 40 performance measures across six arenas: overall equity focus; equity tools and institutional infrastructure; community engagement; equitable labor practices; breadth and depth of equity-focused investments; and transparency/accountability.
Local ARPA Investment Data Snapshot
Projects Analyzed to Date
Equity-Focused Projects
Total Investments Analyzed
Equity-Focused Investments
Reports
The State of Government-Led Medical Debt Cancellation EffortsAs a part of our research examining whether and how ARPA funds are advancing racial and economic equity, we’ve been tracking the efforts that local and state governments are taking to address medical debt through debt cancellation and additional strategies. To understand these trends, we built a comprehensive database that compiles key information about each effort including the amount of public funding, anticipated impacts, date funds were approved, and outcomes to date, producing an [interactive map](https://budgetequity.racepowerpolicy.org/medical-debt-interactive) illustrating these efforts. This research brief summarizes our findings from this review of existing efforts.
