Medical Debt Responsiblity Act of 2013: Anyone following this?

[Focker69]

Legislation was just referred to committee. This is the 3rd time I think that they are trying to get it passed. It would include a provision to the FCRA (someone correct me if i am wrong) that would require collection companies to remove paid or settled medical collection within 45 days of payment. Anyone following this or have any opinions on this? Seems pretty interesting.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr1767

[Focker69]

Purpose:  To exclude from consumer credit reports medical debt that has been in collection and has been fully paid or settled, and for other purposes.

[Lasardo]

Interesting

[JohnnBoy]

I would love to see this bill pass. Although, it would help the people and not big business. I believe this is the 3rd time this bill has come up. I see it getting pushed aside yet again. Unless there is a large out cry from the public.

Only 12% of Senate bills made it past committee and only 2% were enacted in 2011–2013.

That is a sickening statistic.

[Siobhanmairead]

I hope this one passes. All of our baddies are medical bills from our daughter who's had alot of medical problems. 

Is there anything we can do to push this along?

[electra]

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@Siobhanmairead wrote:

I hope this one passes. All of our baddies are medical bills from our daughter who's had alot of medical problems. 

Is there anything we can do to push this along?

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Write your congressman (or woman).

[brindle26]

Yes write your representitive if they're on the House Committee on Finacial Services. Here is a list and a link to Chairman Jeb Hensarling https://financialservices.house.gov/contact/contactform.htm

If anyone has a really great letter please post it for others to use or at the least PM me a copy. Thank you

Committee Members

97

Jeb Hensarling, Texas, Chairman

Gary G. Miller, California,Vice Chairman Spencer Bachus, Alabama, Chairman Emeritus Peter T. King, New York Edward R. Royce, California Frank D. Lucas, Oklahoma Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia Scott Garrett, New Jersey Randy Neugebauer, Texas Patrick T. McHenry, North Carolina John Campbell, California Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Kevin McCarthy, California Stevan Pearce, New Mexico Bill Posey, Florida Michael G. Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania Lynn A. Westmoreland, Georgia Blaine Luetkemeyer, Missouri Bill Huizenga, Michigan Sean P. Duffy, Wisconsin Robert Hurt, Virginia Michael G. Grimm, New York Steve Stivers, Ohio Stephen Lee Fincher, Tennessee Marlin A. Stutzman, Indiana Mick Mulvaney, South Carolina Randy Hultgren, Illinois Dennis A. Ross, Florida Robert Pittenger, North Carolina Ann Wagner, Missouri Garland “Andy” Barr, Kentucky Tom Cotton, Arkansas Keith J. Rothfus, Pennsylvania

Maxine Waters, California, Ranking Member Carolyn B. Maloney, New York Nydia M. Velázquez, New York Melvin L. Watt, North Carolina Brad Sherman, California Gregory W. Meeks, New York Michael E. Capuano, Massachusetts Rubén Hinojosa, Texas Wm. Lacy Clay, Missouri Carolyn McCarthy, New York Stephen F. Lynch, Massachusetts David Scott, Georgia Al Green, Texas Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri Gwen Moore, Wisconsin Keith Ellison, Minnesota Ed Perlmutter, Colorado James A. Himes, Connecticut Gary C. Peters, Michigan John C. Carney, Jr., Delaware Terri A. Sewell, Alabama Bill Foster, Illinois Daniel T. Kildee, Michigan Patrick Murphy, Florida John K. Delaney, Maryland Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona Joyce Beatty, Ohio Denny Heck, Washington

[webhopper]

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@Focker69 wrote:

Legislation was just referred to committee. This is the 3rd time I think that they are trying to get it passed. It would include a provision to the FCRA (someone correct me if i am wrong) that would require collection companies to remove paid or settled medical collection within 45 days of payment. Anyone following this or have any opinions on this? Seems pretty interesting.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr1767

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That would be amazing!

I think in many cases, the prescence of a medical collection is not a good indicator of ability to pay.

I have two medical collections, one on EX and one on EQ. 

I had a car wreck the day after closing on a home in 2008.  I moved about 45 days later.

The hospital that treated me for my injuries sent the bills to my old apartment, even though I had a mail forwarding in place. Also, the physical therapist never sent me a bill at all. 

So now, I have two collections, one from the ER and one from the physical therapist.  I had medical insurance at the time, so the majority of my medical expenses were paid by insurance.  There was less than $300 left to pay, but I didn't ever receive a bill!  Also, I went to the physical therapist 3 times a week for 3 months, and they never told me that I owed anything for the visits at the front office.  I paid my copay, so I thought I was good.

Unfortunately this was my first experience with medical bills (since having medical insurance) , and it still haunts me!

Before I had insurance, I knew I had to pay and paid at the doctors office before leaving.

[dave_csu]

webhopper, I had almost the same situation. I called the ER and was relentless until they admitted the bills came back to them because they sent to wrong address, they agreed to set up a payment plan and update the CRA's immediately