Medical Debt Bill in Senate Committee

Medical Debt Bill in Senate Commerce & Labor Committee TODAY

While we celebrate the passage of HB1828 and SB1436 (more below), VBCF continues to work on HB1725, a bill to provide protections for patients regarding medical debt. The bill passed the House. It will heard in the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee TODAY February 17th.

LAST MINUTE ASK: If your State Senator is on this committee, please send a quick email or make a phone call this morning before NOON.

Background:

HB 1725 is an important step toward safeguarding Virginians from the most extreme forms of debt collection practices, like foreclosing on a home, charging interest and late fees, and also ensuring that hospitals can’t delay or deny care because of unpaid bills.
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.
Imaging and diagnostic tests are some of the most significant sources of unpaid medical bills or other debt related to cancer care: 50% of respondents reported that imaging was a significant source of their debt, and 48% said diagnostic tests.

ACTION NEEDED BY NOON TODAY!

If your State Senator is on the Commerce and Labor Committee (list below), please Call or Email them ASAP!

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

Here is a 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 Delegate Delaney’s 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.

2025 Senate Commerce & Labor Committee Members

Senator Bagby (804)6987514 senatorbagby@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Deeds (804) 698-7511 senatordeeds@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Deeds is the Chair of this Committee

Senator DeSteph (804) 698-7520 senatordesteph@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Ebbin (804) 698-7539 senatorebbin@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Locke (804) 698-7523 senatorlocke@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Lucas (804) 698-7518 senatorlucas@senate.virginia.gov

Senator Marsden (804) 698-753 senatormarsden@senate.virginia.gov

Senator McDougle (804) 698-7526 senatormcdougle@senate.virginia.gov

Senator McPike (804) 698-7529 senatormcpike@senate.virginia.gov