Last week, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 1725 with bipartisan support, advancing the effort to reform medical debt collection practices in the Commonwealth. The bill will now go to Governor Youngkin’s desk, providing him the opportunity to limit the burden of medical debt on Virginian families.
House Bill 1725 aims to limit the burden of medical debt by ensuring that interest rates on medical debt are limited to 3% a year, wage garnishment is prohibited for all patients who quality for financial assistance programs and patient’s core financial assets, like their home, are safeguarded.
Since its introduction in the House, public health organizations, medical experts and patient advocates, including students from the University of Virginia, have rallied around House Bill 1725, citing the prevalence of medical debt among millions of Virginians, many of whom are insured. Recent survey data found that more than half (55%) of Virginians have experienced a healthcare affordability burden in the past year and more than three-quarters (78%) are worried about affording health care in the future.
In January, cancer survivors, medical professionals and patient advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) visited the Capitol in Richmond to highlight the importance of House Bill 1725 in protecting the physical and financial health of Virginians battling disease.
Among the attendees was a cohort of students from UVA who traveled from Charlottesville to connect with their lawmakers and remind them that this issue is on the minds of many young Virginians.
Aditi Kodali, a senior at UVA, said, “This issue is especially important to us, as college students, because we’re seeing an increasing number of young people being diagnosed with cancer. In many cases, these diagnoses are coming before these younger patients have a strong financial footing and can afford treatment, making House Bill 1725 critical for the financial future of young Virginians. We hope Governor Youngkin sees it as an opportunity to promote the financial mobility of younger Virginians, which could entice graduates of Virginia universities to plant their own roots in the state.”
With over 50,000 Virginians expected to receive a cancer diagnosis in 2025, ACS CAN advocates emphasized to lawmakers that this legislation would reduce, what is for many cancer patients, a constant fear surrounding medical debt, the cascading impacts of which can be insurmountable.
A recent survey of cancer patients and survivors, conducted by ACS CAN, found that nearly half of cancer patients and survivors report having medical debt related to their illness. Among them, 30% have faced credit problems and 8% have lost their homes or been forced into unsafe living conditions. Furthermore, 46% of cancer patients and survivors with cancer-related medical debt felt harassed by creditors and debt collectors, who commonly threaten credit scores as an intimidation tactic.
Kodali concluded, “Governor Youngkin has the power to make life in Virginia more financially viable for those with medical debt. We’re hopeful that he will take this chance—for all the young people looking to build a life in the Commonwealth.”
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About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone. We engage our volunteers across the country to make their voices heard by policymakers at every level of government. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We stand with our volunteers, working to make cancer a top priority for policymakers in cities, states and our nation’s capital. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.