NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — NewsChannel 5’s newest community initiative is “Medical Debt Rescue." The goal of the project is to shed light on a lopsided medical debt system that has left thousands of Tennesseans with crippling debt and forced many into foreclosure.

Michelle Johnson, Executive Director of the Tennessee Justice Center, stopped by OpenLine Tuesday night and gave some startling statistics.

For example, Johnson says 70% of Tennesseans have some medical debt and the state leads the nation in medical bankruptcies.

"Often times, people are choosing between medicine and food... which we can do better at as a nation," Johnson said.

Watch the full interview above.