Bills · HR 7478
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 7478Health
Patient Debt Relief Act
INTRO FEB 10· LAST ACTION FEB 10
READING
10MIN
COSPONSORS
18
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis 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-extractedPROVISION 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.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 18
D· New Mexico
YRS IN OFFICE
3
BILLS LED
35
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 18 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSFEB 10
Introduced in House
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.
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
18
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
