medical debt
Banner Article: Trump Administration Challenges to State Medical Debt Protections
Our Executive Director, Marceline White, was featured in an interview on the challenges to state medical debt protections by the Trump administration, in this article in the Baltimore Banner. “We’re going to see a lot of people lose their insurance, delay care and end up in the ER.” Read the article here.
WAMU Interview: Trump Administration Challenges to State Medical Debt Protections
Our Executive Director, Marceline White, was featured in an interview on the challenges to state medical debt protections by the Trump administration, as part of WAMU's Health Hub: Weekly Health Series. “You don’t choose for a loved one to get sick,” said Marceline White, executive director of Economic Action Maryland. “If someone’s in an extreme or urgent situation, you need to get them the medical help they need.” Read the article here.
Maryland hospitals won’t have to repay millions they overcharged poor patients
The state tried to get hospitals to refund poor patients they overcharged. Then it gave up. Read the Baltimore Banner article here, where our executive director Marceline White, is quoted.
Do You Need Medical Debt Assistance?
Far too few patients are aware they may qualify for financial assistance that would reduce or wipe-out their medical debt. Economic Action Maryland Fund is thrilled to partner with Dollar For to help patients in Maryland apply for hospital financial assistance.Dollar For has been working nationwide to crush medical debt by helping patients apply for financial assistance and advocating with hospitals to eliminate or reduce patients’ medical debt.If you or someone you know has medical debt from a hospital stay, click on this link which will take you to our page. On the page you can:See if you may qualify ...
Maryland Medical Debt: Insurance, Maryland’s Wins and National Trends
For Marylanders who receive their health insurance through the state exchange, the increase in costs is sickening. Insurers who offer policies on the state exchange are seeking 17% increases in premiums for individuals to cope with expected cuts in federal funding. These rising costs may make health insurance unaffordable for many working families with some officials estimating that 70,000 may forgo health insurance, increasing their risk of developing high medical debt. Insurance is one of many significant drivers of runaway healthcare costs and medical debt. On Monday, the Lown Institute released Past Due: How Medical Debt is Harming Americans and ...
Post-Crossover Update: Heading To the Finish Line
Last Monday, March 17 wasn’t just St. Patrick’s Day. It was also ‘crossover day,’ the day by which a bill had to pass out of one chamber of the General Assembly in order to have a good chance of final passage by Sine Die, the last day of the 2025 legislative session on Monday, April 7. It wasn’t the luck of the Irish, it was the hard work of our policy team, our bill sponsors, our partners and supporters that led to 14 bills we’ve led and supported making it across this critical legislative hurdle. A few highlights include: HB268/SB981: ...
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 ...
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 debt related to medical services 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 protections in the country. But there is much more work to be done. The Problem and Solutions Hospital Debt Hospital 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 ...
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.