Patient Debt Relief Act | ChamberLight

IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS

House BillHR 7478Health

Patient Debt Relief Act

INTRO FEB 10· LAST ACTION FEB 10

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WHAT THE BILL DOES

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This bill addresses a critical issue many Americans face: crippling medical debt, which is a leading cause of bankruptcy. Currently, collection practices for medical debt can be aggressive, sometimes leading to patients losing their homes or having their wages garnished. This bill could significantly reduce the financial burden and stress on patients by making hospital financial assistance programs more accessible and transparent.

If this bill becomes law, patients will have clearer pathways to financial help and stronger protections against harsh debt collection tactics, potentially preventing thousands from medical debt-related financial ruin. If it doesn't pass, current hospital practices regarding financial assistance and debt collection will largely continue, leaving patients vulnerable to high costs and potentially aggressive collection efforts, perpetuating a cycle of medical debt for many families.

KEY PROVISIONS

4AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

Requires Medicare-participating hospitals, starting January 1, 2028, to establish, publicize, and apply charity care or financial assistance policies.

Ensures hospitals proactively offer financial help and make their policies known to patients, making it easier for eligible individuals to receive assistance.

PROVISION 02

Prohibits hospitals from placing liens on a patient's home or garnishing wages to collect medical debt.

Protects individuals from losing essential assets and income due to medical debt, preventing severe financial hardship.

PROVISION 03

Restricts hospitals from selling or assigning medical debt to a debt collector unless specific conditions are met, including offering a patient a low-payment repayment program and the collector agreeing to abide by certain limitations.

Adds a layer of protection for patients by limiting immediate debt sales and ensuring collection agencies follow specific rules, reducing aggressive collection practices.

PROVISION 04

Establishes a grant program under the Public Health Service Act for purposes of medical debt relief.

Provides federal funding to help alleviate existing medical debt, offering direct financial relief to individuals.

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ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

FEB 10

Introduced in House

INTROREFERRAL

FEB 10

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.

INTROREFERRAL

BILL INFO

TypeHouse Bill

NumberHR 7478

Congress119th

StatusIn Committee

IntroducedFeb 10, 2026

Last actionFeb 10, 2026

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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 10, 2026

House BillHR 7478Health

Patient Debt Relief Act

INTRODUCED FEB 10, 2026· LAST ACTION FEB 10, 2026

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

10 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps Congress.gov

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 2 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Requires Medicare-participating hospitals, starting January 1, 2028, to establish, publicize, and apply charity care or financial assistance policies.

Ensures hospitals proactively offer financial help and make their policies known to patients, making it easier for eligible individuals to receive assistance.

high

Prohibits hospitals from placing liens on a patient's home or garnishing wages to collect medical debt.

Protects individuals from losing essential assets and income due to medical debt, preventing severe financial hardship.

med

Adds a layer of protection for patients by limiting immediate debt sales and ensuring collection agencies follow specific rules, reducing aggressive collection practices.

med

Establishes a grant program under the Public Health Service Act for purposes of medical debt relief.

Provides federal funding to help alleviate existing medical debt, offering direct financial relief to individuals.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

January 1, 2028

Hospitals participating in the Medicare program must comply with new financial assistance and debt collection requirements.

90 days after determination

The Secretary must notify a hospital of noncompliance within 90 days of determination.

45 days after notification

Hospital must take meaningful action to comply after notification.

Not later than 30 days before payment is due

Hospital must determine financial assistance eligibility for an applicant.

More than 1 year

Hospital may not sell or assign medical debt to a debt collector until this time has elapsed since payment was due.

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

TYPE	AMOUNT	WHO
civil	Up to $1,000,000 for each instance of noncompliance	Hospitals participating in the Medicare program that fail to comply with financial assistance and debt collection requirements

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act: The section of federal law that established and governs the Medicare program.
Medicare program: A federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease.
Charity care or financial assistance policy: A hospital's policy detailing how it provides free or discounted care to patients who cannot afford to pay for their medical services.
Lien on a home: A legal claim on a property (like a house) by a creditor (like a hospital) to secure payment of a debt, which can eventually lead to foreclosure if the debt is not paid.
Garnish wages: A legal process allowing a creditor (like a hospital) to take a portion of a debtor's (patient's) earnings directly from their paycheck to repay a debt.
Civil monetary penalty: A financial punishment (fine) imposed by the government for violating a law or regulation, which does not involve criminal charges.
Public Health Service Act: The federal law that authorizes a wide variety of public health programs and activities, including grants for health services.

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

FEB 10

Introduced in House

INTROREFERRAL

FEB 10

INTROREFERRAL

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Feb 10, 2026

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Patient Debt Relief Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

Patient Debt Relief Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

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Discussion

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