Medical Debt Bill Moves to Senate Floor

HB1725 is Moving Ahead! Next up: Senate Floor Vote

Thank you for taking quick action yesterday to help advocate for the medical debt bill, HB1725. I'm pleased to report that it passed the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee yesterday with a vote of 13-2. The bill will head to the Senate Floor for a vote in the next few days.

Take Action: Please take a moment to call/email your State Senator to urge their support for HB1725 when it comes up for a vote in the full Senate. More information is below. (If your Senator is on the Commerce and Labor Committee, you can check their vote at the link above and send a thank-you message if applicable).

HB 1725 Background:

HB 1725 is an important step toward safeguarding Virginians from the most extreme forms of debt collection practices.
Patient groups, hospitals, and other health facility stakeholders worked together on a compromise amendment for the bill. Key provisions of the bill:
Caps interest rates for medical debt at 3% a year and interest cannot accrue in the first 90 days following a final invoice (provides a 90-day interest-free grace period)
Prohibits wage garnishment for all patients who qualify for financial assistance programs
Prohibits a lien or foreclosure on all real and personal property (protects everything a patient owns including the equity in their home)
Medical debt is a huge problem for Virginians and cancer patients in particular. Almost half (47%) of cancer patients and survivors have had medical debt related to their cancer.

ACTION NEEDED

Please call/email your State Senator to Ask them to Vote YES on HB1725

*Don't know who your legislator is: Who's My Legislator?

Sample email/message:

Dear Senator [name] –

My name is [your name] and I live in [city/town]. I am writing you today to ask you to vote YES on important medical debt protection legislation, HB 1725.

[insert personal connection or experience with high medical bills/fighting with hospital billing departments/being concerned about affording the rising costs of healthcare, if you want]

Patients often become trapped by medical debt, which can lead to significant financial strain and, in some cases, cause patients to delay or even skip necessary care. HB 1725 is an important step toward safeguarding Virginians from the most extreme forms of debt collection practices, like foreclosing on a home and garnishing paychecks.

No one chooses to face breast cancer or need major surgery. Yet, the long-lasting negative impacts of medical debt can follow a patient for years and permanently threaten their financial stability.

I hope I can count on you to vote YES on HB 1725 so that patients can focus on what’s most important – their health.

THANK YOU!! For questions, contact Kirsta Millar

kirsta@vbcf.org or 804-285-1200 ext. 203.

ICYMI: Virginia General Assembly Passes Legislation to Eliminate Out-of-Pocket Costs for Breast

VBCF Press Release

CARDINAL NEWS: Bill eliminating supplementary breast exam costs clears legislature on third push

CBS News 6: Virginia bills lowering some cancer care costs now await Youngkin's signature

www.vbcf.org | 1-800-345-8223