Medical Debt
Keep Medical Debt Away From Credit Scores!
Medical debt is pushing too many Maryland families into financial distress. Families struggling to afford essential health care are being forced into high-cost medical credit cards, aggressive debt collection lawsuits, and unfair credit reporting practices—all of which trap patients in cycles of financial hardship. Thanks to your efforts, two of our priority bills (read more about HB268 and HB428) to improve these outcomes have passed out of committee and are on track to make it to the other chamber by crossover day. But the fight is not done, and there are still protections we need to secure at the state ...
End Medical Debt Liens on Homes, and Expand Low-Cost Care!
In the past five years, Economic Action has worked with legislators, coalition partners, and YOU to pass some of the strongest medical debt protections in the country. But there is much more work to be done. As we reach the halfway point of Maryland's legislative session, legislators are faced with competing priorities. With over 2,500 bills this year, it is more important than ever to use your voice and let your elected officials know that protecting patients from medical debt should be a priority. Please urge your legislators to pass HB268/SB981 and HB428/SB349! HB268/SB981 puts patients first by: Creating a ...
Take Two Actions to Put Maryland Patients First and Reduce Medical Debt
Background Medical debt remains an issue in Maryland and one that disproportionately affects Black patients. According to a 2023 poll that Economic Action commissioned, 14% of Marylanders have medical debt they can’t pay with the percentage rising to 23% for Black households. In the past five years, Economic Action has worked with legislators and coalition partners to pass some of the strongest medical debt protections in the country. But there is much more work to be done. The Problems and Solutions Hospital Debt Hospital medical debt remains an issue in Maryland. With rising costs of healthcare, high insurance deductibles, and ...
Political rivals agree medical debt is urgent issue
Despite political tensions, Democrats and Republicans have passed bipartisan laws in over 20 states to protect patients from aggressive billing and collections. “Republicans in the legislature seem more open to protecting people from medical debt than from other kinds of debt,” said Marceline White, executive director of Economic Action Maryland, which helped lead efforts in that state to stop medical providers from garnishing the wages of low-income patients. That bill drew unanimous support from Democrats and Republicans. Read the rest of the article here. You can also get more information on medical debt in Maryland by downloading our 2024 Guide ...
Comments to the HSCRC on Patient Refund Law
In 2022, Economic Action Maryland Fund championed a bill to return an estimated $120 million to low-income patients that were wrongly pursued for medical debt, when they should have received free or low-cost care. The Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) was tasked with creating an implementation process for hospitals to abide by as they identified eligible patients and notified them of the refund. Our letter outlines recommendations to improve the proposed implementation process. Click Here to View Letter
Comment to CFPB on Medical Debt Credit Reporting
In June of 2024, the Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a proposed ruling on the elimination of medical debt from certain credit reporting. Our comment letter urges the CFPB to adopt this proposed ruling with two additions: to include debt incurred on medical credit cards, and for the ban on reporting to be expanded to include credit reports used for tenant and employment screening. Click here for the full letter.
2024 Legislative Session: HB832/SB839 and HB328 Bill Signing
On Thursday, May 16th, we celebrated as two of our priority bills from the 2024 Legislative Session were signed into law by Governor Moore. HB832/SB839, sponsored by Delegate Vaughn Stewart and Senator Charles Sydnor, allows nominal damages to be awarded for violations of consumer laws. HB328, sponsored by Delegate Lesley Lopez, prohibits Maryland hospitals from using geographic service area tests and non-monetary asset tests to deny income-eligible patients free or reduced cost care.
International Rights Group Calls Out U.S. for Allowing Hospitals to Push Millions Into Debt
Human Rights Watch, the nonprofit that for decades has called attention to the victims of war, famine, and political repression around the world, is taking aim at U.S. hospitals for pushing millions of American patients into debt. “Medical debt is drowning many low-income and working families while hospitals continue to benefit from nonprofit tax status as they pursue families for medical debt,” said Marceline White, executive director of Economic Action Maryland. Read the full article here.
Medical Debt Protections Maryland
Medical Debt Protections Maryland This guide is designed to walk you through different options and rights you have to receive affordable hospital health care at different stages in the process which are specific to Maryland. Click Here to View Our 2024 Guide To Medical Debt HB268 Fact Sheet - Putting Patients Over Profits HB428/SB349 - Protecting Patients From Medical Debt Home Liens Paying for Hospital Care - Financial Assistance You may be eligible for free or reduced-cost care. By law, Maryland’s nonprofit hospitals must offer free and low-cost care ...
Medical Debt
Medical Debt Medical debt is the number one cause of bankruptcies in the United States. In 2020, 15% of Maryland residents reported having medical debt. Medical debt can happen to anyone - to people with and without insurance, to low and high-income people, across racial and gender lines. However, while medical debt can happen to anyone, it disproportionately impacts low-income communities and communities of color. Our Medical Debt program provides direct assistance and education to Marylanders struggling with hospital debt through our Medical Debt Freedom Fund and a medical debt Know Your Rights guide. Click Here to View ...