Earlier this week, House Bill 1725 was voted out of the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee. This legislation, which will protect patients from the cascading impacts of medical debt, now advances to the Senate floor for consideration. Cancer survivor Tiffany Freeman joins her fellow volunteers with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in urging members of the Senate to follow the lead of their House colleagues and vote in support of the bill.
Medical debt is an issue that impacts millions of Virginians every year. 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.
House Bill 1725 seeks 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.
In January, cancer survivors, medical professionals and patient advocates with ACS CAN visited the Capitol in Richmond for the annual Cancer Action Day to highlight the importance of House Bill 1725 in protecting the physical and financial health of Virginians battling disease. Tiffany Freeman was among the advocates in attendance on Cancer Action Day.
Freeman said, “Picture being told you must choose between lifesaving treatments or keeping a roof over your head. For many Virginia families fighting cancer, this is not hypothetical—it is their everyday struggle. I faced impossible decisions throughout my treatment and survivorship. With House Bill 1725, we have an opportunity to ensure that families, like mine, aren’t forced to make these difficult choices.”
As a stage III colorectal cancer survivor, Freeman is no stranger to medical debt given the mounting costs of cancer care. Now, six years after her diagnosis, she is using her voice to urge lawmakers to intervene and protect families’ financial mobility.
“By doing away with predatory medical debt collection practices, we can begin to chip away at the cost burden associated with disease which will, in turn, give patients the breathing room to focus on their health and protect their financial future. At a time when Virginians are greatly worried about the cost-of-living, there is no better step that our lawmakers can make to address our affordability concerns than supporting this bill,” said Freeman.
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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.