Patient Debt Relief Act

12/19/2024, 9:05 AM

Summary of Bill HR 9129

The Patient Debt Relief Act, also known as Bill 118 hr 9129, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to provide relief to patients who are struggling with medical debt.

One of the key provisions of the Patient Debt Relief Act is the establishment of a program that would allow patients to negotiate and settle their medical debts with hospitals and other healthcare providers. This program would aim to reduce the financial burden on patients and help them avoid bankruptcy due to overwhelming medical bills.

Additionally, the bill includes measures to increase transparency in medical billing practices, such as requiring healthcare providers to provide patients with clear and understandable explanations of their bills. This would help patients better understand the costs of their medical care and make more informed decisions about their healthcare. Furthermore, the Patient Debt Relief Act seeks to address issues related to surprise medical billing, where patients receive unexpected bills from out-of-network providers. The bill includes provisions to protect patients from these surprise bills and ensure that they are not held responsible for excessive charges. Overall, the Patient Debt Relief Act aims to provide much-needed assistance to patients struggling with medical debt and improve transparency in medical billing practices. It is currently under review in Congress and may undergo further revisions before being voted on.

Current Status of Bill HR 9129

Bill HR 9129 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since July 24, 2024. Bill HR 9129 was introduced during Congress 118 and was introduced to the House on July 24, 2024.  Bill HR 9129's most recent activity was Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. as of December 17, 2024

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 9129

Total Number of Sponsors
2
Democrat Sponsors
2
Republican Sponsors
0
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
8
Democrat Cosponsors
8
Republican Cosponsors
0
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 9129

Primary Policy Focus

Health

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 9129

Patient Debt Relief ActPatient Debt Relief ActTo amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish certain standards and requirements with respect to financial assistance and medical debt collection for hospitals participating in the Medicare program, and to amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to establish a grant program for purposes of medical debt relief.
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