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To the Pennsylvania General Assembly:
A trip to the emergency room for a car accident or medical crisis, a planned surgery, or even the birth of a child can mean hundreds or even thousands in unexpected medical bills that most Pennsylvanians simply can’t afford to pay, leading to widespread medical debt. As organizations that work with communities across Pennsylvania, we urge you to take steps to tackle this growing crisis.
Nationally, 4 in 10 adults report having medical debt, and more than 1 in 10 Pennsylvanians have medical debt that is already in collections. Many more are likely to join them as the costs of medical care and other household necessities rise. Since 2015, the costs of seeking hospital-based care have increased as much as 31% nationally, growing more than four times faster than most workers’ paychecks. Patients who have medical debt often delay or avoid care, which can lead to serious complications and more expensive care down the line.
Medical debt can be prevented before a patient ever receives a medical bill, and the programs to prevent medical debt already exist. The vast majority (91%) of Pennsylvania hospitals are tax-exempt, and therefore required by law to create and publicize financial assistance programs that provide free or discounted care to eligible patients. Yet, many patients are not aware of these programs, meaning that the bills they receive for medical care do not reflect the discounts they should be receiving. Increased awareness of and education about financial assistance programs paired with a standardized application process that removes red tape will ensure patients have more information about what they will pay early in the process of planning or receiving medical care and prevent unexpected bills.
Uninsured or underinsured patients requiring hospital-based care should also be screened for eligibility for and enrolled in health coverage options like Pennie, CHIP, and Medicaid as part of the same seamless application process. This would reduce uncompensated care costs, ensure patients receive appropriate follow-up care without interruption, and prevent medical debt.
For Pennsylvanians already struggling with medical debt, the medical debt relief program proposed in House Bill 78 would provide relief and reduce predatory practices by collection agencies. This bill also prevents medical debt altogether by reducing red tape, increasing transparency and awareness, and creating a streamlined process for accessing health coverage and free or discounted care.
Signed (as of 6/23/2023):
ACLAMO, Action Wellness, Advocates Against Hunger Serving Norristown and Montgomery County, Allegheny Valley Association of Churches, Allies for Children, Art As Social Inquiry, Black Women's Policy Center, Bucks County Women's Advocacy Coalition, Ceiba, Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of Elders (CARIE), City/County Task Force on Disabilities, Committee to Protect Health Care, Community Check-Up Center, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, Esperanza Health Center, Foundation for Health Equity, Free Clinic Association of Pennsylvania, Friends Association, Health Federation of Philadelphia, Health, Education, and Legal Assistance Project: A Medical-Legal Partnership (HELP: MLP), Just Harvest, Juvenile Law Center, KenCrest, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania, Maternity Care Coalition, Mental Health Association of NWPA, Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance, Narberth Community Food Bank, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, PA Breast Cancer Coalition, PA Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, PA Health Funders Collaborative, Partnership for Better Health, Pembroke Philanthropy Advisors, Pennsylvania Health Access Network, Pennsylvania Health Law Project, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, Pennsylvania Rural Health Association, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates, Project HOME, Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association (RCPA), Self Advocates United As 1 (SAU1), Siloam Wellness, The Arc of Centre County, Trinity Lutheran Church, United Spinal Pittsburgh, VNA Community Services, Women's Resource Center
If you have questions, concerns, or don't want Organization Name to be publicly listed, please contact patrick@pahealthaccess.org as soon as possible.