The Michigan Senate has approved a set of bills aimed at reducing medical debt and helping families who face high healthcare costs. The bipartisan legislation was sponsored by Senators Jonathan Lindsey and Sarah Anthony.
The bills, approved Wednesday, target debt collection practices like wage garnishment and home foreclosure. They also cap the interest rates that can be charged on medical debt. Additionally, they require hospitals to offer financial assistance programs to help families during emergencies.
Senator Lindsey said many Michigan families struggle with health care costs and that the new laws will help protect them.
He said, “A medical emergency shouldn’t become a lifetime of financial hardship.”
Senator Anthony added that over 700,000 Michigan residents are carrying medical debt, often from unexpected emergencies.
The legislation now heads to the Michigan House of Representatives.