States Continue to Enact Protections for Patients with Medical Debt

Commonwealth Fund August 8, 2024
Maanasa Kona

TOPLINES

The Biden administration recommended that states take action to prevent accumulation of medical debt, limit coercive debt collections practices, and purchase and eliminate medical debt

Most states have not yet enacted laws preventing the accrual of medical debt, but many have implemented protections for people who already have accumulated debt

Earlier this summer, the Biden administration announced updated guidance on medical debt. In addition to a proposed federal rule to prevent medical bills from being included in credit reports, the administration recommended that states take action to prevent accumulation of medical debt, limit coercive debt collections practices, and purchase and eliminate medical debt.

Since publishing our report on state laws governing medical debt, at least 12 states have taken...

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