Momentum against medical debt

Even in a polarized political landscape, legislators from both parties are able to agree to take action against medical debt. KFF Health News reports that "New laws to curb aggressive hospital billing, to expand charity care for lower-income patients, and to rein in debt collectors have been enacted in more than 20 states since 2021." The article also notes that while one party might have initiated most of the legislation, the laws passed with the support of the other party.

Part of the momentum seems to stem from the fact that medical care is, in many cases, necessary for survival, so patients do not have many options, especially in the case of emergencies. Another part of the motivation seems to be that hospitals may be engaging in what are considered unfair business practices. For example, Oklahoma passed a new law that "bars medical providers from pursuing patients for debts if the provider has not publicly posted its prices." Perhaps these legislative actions will be a cautionary tale to other parts of the industry to avoid practices that seem unjust.