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Attorney general and advocates push for standardized hospital financial assistance to curb medical debt
Summary
The attorney general’s office, patient advocates and health‑policy groups urged the Joint Committee to pass bills that would require both nonprofit and for‑profit hospitals to use a uniform financial‑assistance application, standard eligibility thresholds and clearer notice rules to reduce medical debt for insured and uninsured patients.
Boston — The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing heard support from the attorney general’s office, patient‑advocacy organizations and clinicians for legislation that would standardize hospital financial‑assistance policies and reduce medical debt collections.
Assistant Attorney General Chloe Cable told the committee the attorney general’s office strongly supports H 13 50 and S 8 42, bills filed by Representative Christine Barber and Senator Joanne Comerford. “Even with near‑universal coverage in Massachusetts, residents are still struggling to afford their medical bills,” Cable said. She cited the office’s 2024 cost‑trends report showing that hospital medical debt disproportionately affects women, Black patients and low‑income patients.
What the bills would do: Witnesses described three main changes: require all…
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