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Senate approves cap on medical debt interest after debate over rural hospitals
Summary
The Washington Senate passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5993 to cap interest on medical debt following floor amendments and extended debate about effects on rural hospitals; lawmakers adopted technical and timing amendments and rejected a differential-rate amendment.
The Washington State Senate passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5993 on Feb. 5, 2026, capping interest on medical debt after floor amendments and more than an hour of debate about the bill’s effect on rural hospitals and providers.
Senator Alvarado, the bill sponsor, told colleagues the measure “caps interest on medical debt at 1%,” describing the change as a compromise to help families manage bills without eliminating underlying obligations. She said the cap seeks to reduce the compounding burdens that push households toward bankruptcy: "Families want to pay…
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