Consumers for Quality Care Statement on CFPB Decision to Vacate Medical Debt Rule

By Consumers For Quality Care, on May 2, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to reporting that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is vacating its rule removing medical debt from credit reports, Consumers for Quality Care Board Member Jim Manley released the following statement:  

“Consumers for Quality Care is deeply disappointed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s decision to abandon the millions of people across the country who have been forced to incur debt in order to get the health care they or their families need. 

Medical debt is not a measure of financial irresponsibility — it is often a symptom of a broken health care system that leaves patients vulnerable to surprise bills, inadequate insurance coverage, and crushing out-of-pocket costs. This cycle of debt is often incurred even when people should have qualified for help and charity care. Allowing this debt to remain on credit reports punishes patients for seeking care and can have long-term consequences on their ability to secure housing, employment, and loans.

“Removing medical debt from credit reports would have protected up to 15 million Americans, erasing nearly $49 billion in debt from their credit records and ensuring it wouldn’t be used to deny credit. That protection should not be a partisan issue — it is a matter of fairness, dignity, and health equity. Consumers for Quality Care will continue to advocate for policies that put patients first, ensure affordable, high-quality care, and protect consumers from financial harm simply because they got sick or needed care. This action harms many millions while only benefiting the broken industries and systems that put profits over people.”