Bill Overview
Title: Strengthening Consumer Protections and Medical Debt Transparency Act
Description: This bill establishes a series of requirements relating to the collection of medical debt. Among other provisions, the bill restricts the circumstances under which health care entities may initiate extraordinary collection actions, requires entities to provide detailed debt statements and payment receipts to patients, and establishes a public medical debt collection database with information about medical debt collectors.
Sponsors: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Target Audience
Population: People stressed or impacted by medical debt
Estimated Size: 72000000
- Medical debt is a globally prevalent issue, affecting millions worldwide.
- The World Health Organization has identified inadequate healthcare and financial hardship due to medical costs as significant issues in many countries.
- Access to comprehensive data on the exact global population affected by medical debt is limited, but it's a widespread issue, particularly in countries without universal healthcare.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily impacts individuals already affected by medical debt, a substantial population in the U.S. estimated to be around 72 million people. Therefore, these individuals should represent the majority of simulated interviews.
- For a balanced perspective, include individuals across various demographic backgrounds, such as age, gender, occupation, and geographic location.
- Since the policy targets transparency and debt collection practices, it's important to consider individuals both directly burdened by debt as well as those who might experience secondary effects such as relatives of those in debt or individuals working in healthcare administration.
- The interviews should mix varying levels of impact, including scenarios where the policy does not significantly affect the individual due to pre-existing financial stability or adequate health insurance coverage.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (Texas)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry a lot about paying for my medical bills. This policy could really help me understand what I owe and who I owe it to.
- If I could have a clear statement and less aggressive collection actions, I think I could manage my payments better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (California)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Facing medical debt is terrifying. This kind of policy would help people like me find a way forward instead of being buried in paperwork and uncertainty.
- Understanding what I owe and having a grace period before extreme collection starts would relieve a lot of my stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Retired (Florida)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Retirement is supposed to be a time of relaxation, but medical debts have made it tough. This policy would help with managing our finances more effectively.
- We often needed multiple clarifications about our medical bills. Transparency would save us from unexpected expenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Software Engineer (New York)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don’t have medical debt due to my insurance coverage, but I think the policy is a good move for those who need it.
- It might indirectly affect me by reducing the stress for my friends who struggle with medical costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Healthcare Administrator (Illinois)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is much needed. Every day, I see families struggle trying to understand their bills and deal with aggressive collectors.
- Empowering patients with information is a step forward for the healthcare system.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Waitress (Georgia)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My medical bills from childbirth have been overwhelming. A policy like this would mean fewer unwanted surprises on the bills.
- Just having a straightforward bill would assist me in budgeting effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Small Business Owner (Ohio)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While our insurance covered most, we still accrued debt unexpectedly. This policy could provide the clarity every family needs.
- Having clear information helps us plan our financial obligations better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Unemployed (Arizona)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Medical bills make life really hard right now. Understanding and getting clarity would really help us plan more effectively.
- Times are tough but having some protection from aggressive debt collection would mean we can focus on recovery.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Firefighter (Washington)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Being a single parent is difficult enough without worrying over unclear medical bills. I'd like to see those addressed more clearly by this policy.
- We face enough risks daily; I wouldn't want finances to be another one.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retired Veteran (New Mexico)
Age: 63 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Navigating medical debt can be confusing. This would help veterans like me by providing clarity and peace of mind.
- Although I get some help from benefits, this would aid in understanding my financial position better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 3: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 10: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Key Considerations
- The cost of implementation and maintenance of a public database.
- Compliance costs and potential resistance or legal challenges from healthcare entities.
- The potential long-term public health benefits of reducing financial stress associated with medical debt.