Addressing the Medical Debt Crisis a Bipartisan Issue Among State Legislatures

By Consumers for Quality Care, on October 23, 2024

Across the country and during a time of heavy partisan division, Democrats and Republicans are working together in state legislatures to combat medical debt impacting their constituents, according to KFF Health News.

Since 2021, more than 20 states have passed laws to fight aggressive hospital billing practices, regulate debt collection, and expand charity care. Most of these efforts could not have been accomplished without bipartisan support.

Republican Florida House Speaker Paul Renner noted the importance of addressing these issues for all consumers, stating, “Regardless of their party, regardless of their background…any significant medical procedure can place people into bankruptcy. This is a real issue.”

With around 100 million Americans carrying medical debt, legislators can’t afford to sit on the sidelines. Marceline White, who serves as the Executive Director of Economic Action Maryland, says that getting sick should not put a consumer in financial ruin. “There seems to be broad agreement that you shouldn’t lose your home or your life savings because you got ill. That’s just a basic level of fairness.”

Research has shown that most consumers want their elected officials to address the medical debt crisis. Over 80 percent of consumers wants limits imposed on medical debt collections and for hospitals to institute stronger financial aid requirements that help low-income individuals and families.

CQC applauds these efforts but urges the nation’s elected leaders to address the root causes of medical debt and take action to protect consumers.