A Democratic bill with 18 Democratic cosponsors · See all 18 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Patient Debt Relief Act aims to change how hospitals participating in Medicare handle financial assistance and medical debt collection. It requires hospitals to establish charity care policies, include specific information on bills, and follow strict debt collection rules. Hospitals that do not comply may face civil monetary penalties of up to $1,000,000. The bill also creates a medical debt relief grant program to help nonprofits acquire and discharge the medical debt of eligible individuals. This program would be funded by an authorized $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +8
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill protects low-income individuals from wage garnishment, home liens, and the sale of their medical debt.
- Scored +7
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill implements strict debt collection limitations and requirements for hospitals to establish charity care policies.
- Scored +6
Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?
The bill provides grants to discharge medical debt and prohibits interest and debt sales for low-income individuals.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes $100,000,000 in spending for a medical debt relief grant program.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Standardized Financial Assistance: Hospitals must establish a charity care or financial assistance policy with minimum eligibility requirements that are publicly available (Section 2, subsection (l)(2)(A)).
-
Protection During Determination: Hospitals are prohibited from seeking payment until a determination is made regarding whether an individual is eligible for financial assistance (Section 2, subsection (l)(2)(B)(iii)).
-
Prevention of Home and Wage Loss: Hospitals are prohibited from placing liens or foreclosing on a person's home, or garnishing their wages, to collect medical debt (Section 2, subsection (l)(3)(A)-(B)).
-
Debt Sale Restrictions: Hospitals cannot sell or assign medical debt to a debt collector unless certain conditions are met, such as the debt being more than one year old and the availability of a specific repayment program (Section 2, subsection (l)(3)(C)).
-
Interest Rate and Debt Sale Protections for Low Income: If an individual's household income was not above 250 percent of the poverty line at the time services were provided, the hospital cannot charge annual interest or sell the debt to a collector (Section 2, subsection (l)(3)(D)).
-
Medical Debt Relief via Grants: A new grant program will allow nonprofit organizations to acquire and discharge the medical debt of eligible individuals (Section 3, subsection (a)-(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Penalties for Hospitals: Hospitals that fail to comply with new financial assistance and debt collection requirements can be hit with civil monetary penalties up to $1,000,000 (Section 2, subsection (b)(5)(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill protects low-income individuals from wage garnishment, home liens, and the sale of their medical debt. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill provides debt relief and protections that can benefit middle-income families facing high medical expenses.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill requires hospitals to establish and publicize charity care and financial assistance policies. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill establishes new requirements and penalties for hospitals participating in the Medicare program.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill implements strict debt collection limitations and requirements for hospitals to establish charity care policies. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes $100,000,000 in spending for a medical debt relief grant program.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill provides grants to discharge medical debt and prohibits interest and debt sales for low-income individuals.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires hospitals to make financial assistance eligibility requirements publicly available.
- 2/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/10/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 17 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Nanette BarragánDemocrat · California
Kathy CastorDemocrat · Florida
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
Steve CohenDemocrat · Tennessee
Angie CraigDemocrat · Minnesota
Suzan DelBeneDemocrat · Washington
Maxwell FrostDemocrat · Florida
Jesús GarcíaDemocrat · Illinois
Robert GarciaDemocrat · California
Daniel GoldmanDemocrat · New York
Steven HorsfordDemocrat · Nevada
Greg LandsmanDemocrat · Ohio
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Raul RuizDemocrat · California
Kim SchrierDemocrat · Washington
Melanie StansburyDemocrat · New Mexico
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan