Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
01/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/16/2025 11:12
Kuzma, Others Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Pennsylvanians Overcome Medical Debt
Jan. 16, 2025
HARRISBURG - Rep. Andrew Kuzma (R-Allegheny/Washington) joined Reps. Arvind Venkat (D-Allegheny), Nate Davidson (D-Dauphin/Cumberland), Tarik Khan (D-Philadelphia), Bridget M. Kosierowski (D-Lackawanna), Jim Rigby (R-Cambria/Somerset) and Tim Twardzik (R-Schuylkill) in introducing a bipartisan bill that would create the Pennsylvania Medical Debt Relief Program.
House Bill 79 would target the medical debt of low-income Pennsylvania residents for relief. The Pennsylvania Medical Debt Relief Program would also improve the finances of health care institutions and providers, concentrated largely in rural Pennsylvania, that regularly carry debt that is less likely to be repaid.
Furthermore, the legislation would enact provisions to ensure transparency in existing hospital charity care programs and provide assistance in applying for charity care to prevent the accumulation of new medical debt.
"I am always supportive of innovative ways to benefit the lives of Pennsylvanians," said Kuzma. "I find Rep. Venkat's proposal intriguing, and I commend him for his efforts in being on the forefront to address this issue."
"Medical debt has been dubbed a 'uniquely American problem,' so it's my hope that our bill will help provide relief to as many Pennsylvanians as possible," said Venkat. "I'm proud to partner with bipartisan colleagues on this legislation that reduces the burden of affording medical care and allows families to put more food on the table."
"This legislation is more than just a policy - it's a lifeline that restores dignity, empowers families, and ensures that health does not come at the cost of hardship. I'm proud to sponsor this bipartisan measure so that vulnerable Pennsylvanians can focus on their financial futures without medical debt," added Davidson. "This proposal is a tremendous value to the taxpayers of the Commonwealth and would undoubtedly transform lives for the better."
"As a nurse, I've seen patients suffer and neglect care due to high health care costs. Medical debt leads many to avoid preventative care or skip out on addressing health care issues when they are still treatable," said Khan. "Our bill will help thousands of families in the Commonwealth get the medical debt relief they need."
"When my son was diagnosed with childhood leukemia, the last thing I wanted to worry about was the stress of medical costs," added Kosierowski. "No family in Pennsylvania should ever need to think twice before seeking care for chronic or other serious conditions for fear of going into medical debt."
"I voted for this legislation last session and am going a step further this session in cosponsoring it as a show of bipartisan support," added Rigby. "The burden that debt from medical bills can place on our most vulnerable citizens is not exclusive to Republicans or Democrats, and I'm looking forward to working with Representative Venkat to address this critical issue."
"Investing in medical debt relief is a compassionate and practical approach to supporting individuals while fostering a healthier, more resilient society," said Twardzik. "Health care providers would have more resources for care instead of bill collection."
In Pittsburgh, city council invested $1 million to alleviate the medical debt of residents through a program similar to the proposed bill. The city, as a result, can discharge $115 million of health care debt for 24,000 residents.
The 39th Legislative District includes Elizabeth, Forward and South Park townships and Elizabeth, Jefferson Hills, Pleasant Hills and West Elizabeth boroughs in Allegheny County; and Union and part of Carroll townships, Finleyville and New Eagle boroughs, and the city of Monongahela in Washington County.
Representative Andrew Kuzma
39th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
[email protected]
RepKuzma.com / Facebook.com/RepKuzma
House Bill 79 would target the medical debt of low-income Pennsylvania residents for relief. The Pennsylvania Medical Debt Relief Program would also improve the finances of health care institutions and providers, concentrated largely in rural Pennsylvania, that regularly carry debt that is less likely to be repaid.
Furthermore, the legislation would enact provisions to ensure transparency in existing hospital charity care programs and provide assistance in applying for charity care to prevent the accumulation of new medical debt.
"I am always supportive of innovative ways to benefit the lives of Pennsylvanians," said Kuzma. "I find Rep. Venkat's proposal intriguing, and I commend him for his efforts in being on the forefront to address this issue."
"Medical debt has been dubbed a 'uniquely American problem,' so it's my hope that our bill will help provide relief to as many Pennsylvanians as possible," said Venkat. "I'm proud to partner with bipartisan colleagues on this legislation that reduces the burden of affording medical care and allows families to put more food on the table."
"This legislation is more than just a policy - it's a lifeline that restores dignity, empowers families, and ensures that health does not come at the cost of hardship. I'm proud to sponsor this bipartisan measure so that vulnerable Pennsylvanians can focus on their financial futures without medical debt," added Davidson. "This proposal is a tremendous value to the taxpayers of the Commonwealth and would undoubtedly transform lives for the better."
"As a nurse, I've seen patients suffer and neglect care due to high health care costs. Medical debt leads many to avoid preventative care or skip out on addressing health care issues when they are still treatable," said Khan. "Our bill will help thousands of families in the Commonwealth get the medical debt relief they need."
"When my son was diagnosed with childhood leukemia, the last thing I wanted to worry about was the stress of medical costs," added Kosierowski. "No family in Pennsylvania should ever need to think twice before seeking care for chronic or other serious conditions for fear of going into medical debt."
"I voted for this legislation last session and am going a step further this session in cosponsoring it as a show of bipartisan support," added Rigby. "The burden that debt from medical bills can place on our most vulnerable citizens is not exclusive to Republicans or Democrats, and I'm looking forward to working with Representative Venkat to address this critical issue."
"Investing in medical debt relief is a compassionate and practical approach to supporting individuals while fostering a healthier, more resilient society," said Twardzik. "Health care providers would have more resources for care instead of bill collection."
In Pittsburgh, city council invested $1 million to alleviate the medical debt of residents through a program similar to the proposed bill. The city, as a result, can discharge $115 million of health care debt for 24,000 residents.
The 39th Legislative District includes Elizabeth, Forward and South Park townships and Elizabeth, Jefferson Hills, Pleasant Hills and West Elizabeth boroughs in Allegheny County; and Union and part of Carroll townships, Finleyville and New Eagle boroughs, and the city of Monongahela in Washington County.
Representative Andrew Kuzma
39th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
[email protected]
RepKuzma.com / Facebook.com/RepKuzma
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