{"id":22757,"date":"2025-07-29T15:39:43","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T19:39:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/?p=22757"},"modified":"2025-07-29T15:39:45","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T19:39:45","slug":"as-trump-puts-americans-medical-debt-back-on-credit-reports-merkley-williams-correa-fight-for-patients-consumer-protections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/es\/as-trump-puts-americans-medical-debt-back-on-credit-reports-merkley-williams-correa-fight-for-patients-consumer-protections\/","title":{"rendered":"As Trump Puts Americans\u2019 Medical Debt Back on Credit Reports, Merkley, Williams, Correa Fight for Patients & Consumer Protections"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today partnered with U.S. Representatives Nikema Williams (GA-05) and Lou Correa (CA-46) to push back against recent efforts by the Trump Administration to roll back federal protections aiming to keep medical debt off Americans\u2019 credit reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their Ley de alivio de la deuda m\u00e9dica<\/em> would ban all medical debt from appearing on credit reports and prohibit creditors from considering Americans\u2019 medical debt in their decisions on whether to extend them credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cEvery patient should be able to get the care they need without fear of financial ruin,\u201d dijo Merkley.<\/strong> \u201cAmerica\u2019s medical debt crisis is harming families nationwide, but instead of working to help working families, the Trump Administration is repealing a federal safeguard that removed medical debt from credit reports for 15 million people. The medical debt reporting system is badly broken, and we must do all we can to relieve patients of this tremendous burden. Our Ley de alivio de la deuda m\u00e9dica<\/em> is a common-sense step forward that will help families in Oregon and communities across America.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cTrump\u2019s reversal of the CFPB rule exempting medical debts from credit reports demonstrates a lack of understanding and care for America\u2019s working families,\u201d said Williams.<\/strong> \u201cMedical debt is one of the leading causes of financial strain, and our current system continues that hardship even after the bill is paid, allowing settled medical debts to harm their credit reports. Often, these debts are beyond their control \u2014 and it\u2019s far past time to right this wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cEvery year far too many hardworking Americans are crushed by medical debt. Even after families have paid their bills, their credit scores still take a nosedive. It\u2019s simple: your health should never bankrupt you,\u201d said Correa.<\/strong> \u201cThis legislation helps families get back on their feet without punishing them for being sick. I\u2019ll keep fighting for common sense policies that help families get ahead and stay healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

1-in-5 Americans reported having medical debt, and it is the number one reason Americans file for bankruptcy. Medical debt is the most common type of consumer debt in collection, accounting for over $88 billion of all consumer debt. Medical debt also tends to plague the most vulnerable, including the uninsured, those who are chronically ill or disabled, and minority communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

El Ley de alivio de la deuda m\u00e9dica<\/em> protects patients from the financial harm that medical debt causes and codifies a federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule that removed medical debt from credit reports for 15 million people. Specifically, the bill:<\/p>\n\n\n\n