As Federal Protections Stall, States Move to the Front Lines to Alleviate Medical Debt

Summary: Americans owe over $220 billion in medical debt, and it is causing huge financial stress for millions of people. The federal government used to help protect patients from this debt, but those efforts have recently stalled. Funding has been cut, and rules designed to keep medical debt off credit reports were reversed.

Now, individual states are stepping up to the front lines to save the day. States like Maine, Maryland, and Vermont are passing new laws to offer free or discounted care, limit interest rates, and stop hospitals from taking people's homes or wages over unpaid bills. With federal help fading, states are working hard to rescue patients from crushing medical bills.

Source: rssapp-commonwealthfund-org-blog URL: commonwealthfund.org/blog/2026/federal-protections-stall-states-move-front-lines-alleviate-medical-debt (opens in new tab)