Flag Day on June 14th The Modoc County Vol. 133, No. 12
RECORD Alturas, California
June 12, 2025
$1.00
Serving Modoc Since 1892 16 Pages
Training, Employment And Community Help, Inc. Chosen As A 2025 California Nonprofit Of The Year By Assemblymember Heather Hadwick T r a i n i n g , Employment, and Community Help, Inc. (TEACH Inc.) is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2025 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Heather Hadwick from the Assembly District One. TEACH Inc. is one of more than one hundred nonprofits that was honored by their state senators and assembly members for their outstanding contributions to the communities they serve. TEACH Inc. is dedicated to addressing the diverse needs of our community through a wide range of essential programs and services. We work to build a stronger, more resilient community by offering critical support in areas such as: Family and Youth Support: Providing vital assistance with childcare, foster family support, parenting programs, court appointed special advocate program and enriching latchkey afterschool services. Safety and Advocacy: Offering compassionate domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy to support survivors and promote safety. Education and Employment: Facilitating pathways to independence through adult education, and comprehensive college and career awareness
initiatives. Basic Needs and Stability: Ensuring fundamental needs are met with housing resource information, senior nutrition programs, IHSS provider training and support, emergency food bank services, the LIHEAP energy assistance program, and disability advocacy services. Our holistic approach aims to remove barriers, create opportunities, and enhance the overall quality of life for all community members we serve. “On behalf of TEACH Inc., I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Assemblymember Heather Hadwick for selecting us as her Non-Profit of the Year. We are honored and deeply grateful for this recognition. This acknowledgement affirms the hard work and dedication of our staff, volunteers and community partners. It also shines a light on the important work being done to support the residents of Modoc County, “said Carol Madison, TEACH Inc. Executive Director. “We are grateful for the work of TEACH Inc. and want to extend our congratulations for this well-deserved recognition,” said Geoff Green, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits
Assemblymember Heather Hadwick on the right and Carol Madison, TEACH Inc. Executive Director on the left. (CalNonprofits), the sponsor for this initiative. “Nonprofit provide critical services, advocate for our most vulnerable neighbors, and enrich the lives of all Californians. From the childcare program to the soccer team, from the art class to the health clinic, and from the community organizer to the animal shelter, nonprofits make our communities stronger”. “Nonprofits are not just innovators and
problem-solvers, but also a major economic force within the state,” said Green. According to “Causes Count,” a 2019 report commissioned by CalNonprofits, the nonprofit sector is the 4th largest industry in the state, employing more than 1.2 million people. Each year, California nonprofits generate more than $273 billion in revenue and bring in $40 billion in revenue from outside of California. The unpaid labor contributed
by volunteers at nonprofits is equivalent to 330,000 full-time jobs every year. Now in its tenth year, the California Nonprofit of the Year initiative provides the opportunity for each California state legislator to recognize a nonprofit organization doing outstanding work in their district. The program culminates with a celebratory luncheon at the Capitol on California Nonprofits Day, which this year is May 21.
The program is sponsored by the CalNonprofits in partnership with the state Senate and Assembly Select Committees on the Nonprofit Sector. CalNonprofits, the leading policy voice for California’s nonprofit sector, focuses on advocacy, education, and research to build a more powerful and politically engaged nonprofit network across the state.
Medical Debt and Billing Complaints Hit Home in Modoc County By: Shaelene Tims Medical debt is rising across the country, and Modoc County residents are feeling it too. According to Jared Walker, founder of Dollar For, a nonprofit that helps people get hospital bills forgiven, U.S. hospitals fail to provide about $14 billion in charity care each year. That care is meant for low-income patients, but hospitals often mark unpaid bills as bad debt. Walker says this offers little benefit to hospitals and leaves patients overwhelmed. Federal law requires hospitals to tell patients about financial aid, but how they do it varies. Many patients never learn they qualify. Walker says hospitals should check a patient’s eligibility for assistance right away, instead of expecting them to figure it out during a stressful time. Since 2019, Dollar For has helped erase
more than $70 million in medical debt. The group works directly with patients to navigate hospital financial assistance, also called charity care. It offers free online tools, sample letters, and personalized help. The goal is to make sure hospitals follow their own rules and that patients aren’t punished for not knowing them. Dollar For also gives people tools to challenge inaccurate charges, ask for discounts, and apply for payment plans. Walker encourages patients to request itemized bills, ask questions, and explain their financial situations clearly. Even those who don’t qualify for full debt relief may be able to get help through hardship programs. In Modoc County, many locals have voiced similar concerns. Dozens of residents have shared their experiences with surprise bills, late charges, and trouble getting answers. One person said they were
charged hundreds of dollars for lab work even though their insurance should have covered everything. Some said collections called them before they ever got a bill. Some pointed out that billing problems didn’t go away with the new hospital building. Others said they had to follow up multiple times to fix errors. A few said they eventually got help after speaking to hospital staff in person or making repeated calls. Modoc Medical Center staff have replied to several public posts and offered direct help. Alicia Doss, from the hospital’s risk management team, has posted publicly, encouraging patients to call her to resolve billing problems. The hospital also ran a promotion offering 50 percent off bills paid in full by May 31. Rural hospitals often face their own challenges. They serve communities with high rates of public insurance, limited
access to care, and lower household incomes. That can make billing and payment more complex. Staffing shortages and narrow financial margins add even more strain. These pressures can lead to mistakes and delays. Advocates say fixing them takes transparency and follow-through. In a place like Modoc County, where incomes tend to fall below the state average, even a small billing error can turn into a serious hardship. Many families can’t afford to wait months for corrections or dig through complex paperwork when they’re already dealing with health issues. Walker says the most important thing patients can do is not panic. Instead, they should ask for an itemized bill, look for mistakes, and contact the hospital’s billing department to request financial assistance. Even if they’ve been denied before, it may be worth applying again, especially if their
finances have changed. Dollar For’s website offers a free eligibility quiz, negotiation scripts, and templates to help people start that process. “You don’t have to face it alone,” Walker said. “Most people don’t realize they have rights. You just have to know how to use them.” Adam Willoughby, Chief Operations Officer at Modoc Medical Center, said the hospital continues to make improvements to help patients facing billing issues. “Here at MMC, we put a concerted effort into ensuring our billing is accurate and timely. Patient feedback is a vital part of our decision making at every turn. For example, we made a transition to a new billing company in October 2023 as a major step in our effort to mitigate billing mistakes and improve efficiency. We continue to prioritize feedback and have recently added additional full-time staff onsite to increase our availability to patients
facing billing challenges. As patients ourselves, we understand how burdensome medical bills can be and are committed to doing all that we can to help our patients navigate this process.” Modoc Medical Center encourages patients who have billing concerns to contact Patient Financial Services directly at (530) 7088819 or by email at info@ modocmedicalcenter.org. Meanwhile, the broader conversation continues. Dollar For and other advocates say lasting reform will require hospitals to screen patients for financial aid automatically and offer clearer communication at every step. Until then, patients are left to figure it out themselves. In Modoc County and across the country, people are asking for change. But for now, the first step is asking questions, staying organized, and knowing where to turn for help.