OLBCF CONDEMNS CLEVELAND CLINIC'S PREDATORY COPAY POLICY AND DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR COMMUNITY HARM

The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation (OLBCF) stands in full opposition to the Cleveland Clinic's outrageous and morally bankrupt new policy requiring patients to pay copays upfront or lose their appointments. This egregious decision is only the latest chapter in a long history of exploitation, displacement, and willful neglect of the Black communities surrounding the Clinic's gleaming facilities.

Cleveland Clinic has profited for decades from its tax-exempt nonprofit status while benefiting from the labor, culture, and resilience of Black Clevelanders. For years, we have witnessed the continued encroachment of the Clinic into historically Black neighborhoods under the guise of "development" while the needs of Black residents are left unmet. These communities have faced disinvestment, rising housing costs, and limited access to quality healthcare, even as Cleveland Clinic has grown into one of the wealthiest healthcare systems in the nation.

We demand the following:

• Immediate cancellation of this harmful and discriminatory upfront copay policy.

• A commitment from Cleveland Clinic to expand and prioritize accessible, affordable care for Black and low-income communities.

• Transparent reporting from Cleveland Clinic on its community benefit activities and measurable outcomes that impact Black neighborhoods.

"Cleveland Clinic has shown once again that it values profit over people," said Shayla L. Davis, President & CEO of OLBCF. "This policy is another barrier designed to push our community further to the margins. We cannot stand by while institutions take from our neighborhoods and give nothing back."

We call on every community leader to stand with us in demanding justice and dignity for Black patients and our neighborhoods. The time for Cleveland Clinic to prioritize people over profits is long overdue.