Medical Debt ODR, with Dana Schmidt, Manager of Mediation Programs, Tennessee Supreme Court

In this episode Colin interviews Dana Schmidt, who manages the mediation programs at the Tennessee Supreme Court. Dana oversees an innovative Court ODR program to help Tennesseans resolve medical debt before it escalates to lawsuits or credit damage. Through the TN Med Debt platform, patients owing money to Erlanger Hospital can initiate private, convenient negotiations—often with help from trained mediators—on payment plans or reduced amounts. The program is free, voluntary, and accessible via smartphone, offering an alternative to court that eases strain on the legal system and on struggling families.

Tennessee faces some of the nation’s highest rates of medical debt, and this effort aims to change that. With backing from the State Justice Institute, Tennessee Supreme Court, and Legal Aid of East Tennessee, the pilot offers a compassionate, scalable solution that benefits both patients and providers. Erlanger supports the approach as a way to avoid collections and preserve patient relationships. Leaders hope to expand the program statewide and plan to build a new system, launching in September, to introduce new features to the system.

Information on the program: https://www.tncourts.gov/news/2021/05/18/new-online-dispute-resolution-platform-offers-hope-those-medical-debt

Current (June 2025) landing page for the Medical Debt ODR Program: https://cii2.courtinnovations.com/TNMEDDEBT