A debt repayment bill is pending in the state House of Representatives that could impact rural healthcare.
Five state representatives introduced the state Medical Debt Repayment Program last week in an effort to alleviate the hardship of medical debt. Those proposing the bill estimate over $575 million of medical debt could be paid in full with the program.
The bill has yet to be reviewed for consideration, as committee assignments and House rules have not been established by Speaker Mark Rozzi. Even so, state Rep. Rich Irvin thinks the bill could have potential if thoroughly vetted.
“Obviously, without this bill being introduced or the language drafted it is too soon to determine exactly what impacts it could have on the citizens of the 81st district,” Irvin said. “Questions such as eligibility, cost to the taxpayers and our local hospitals will all need (to be) debated as this bill moves through the committee and amendment process. The last thing anyone wants to see in Pennsylvania is young families or seniors choosing between going into debt or seeking the appropriate preventative and necessary medical care. It’s a huge undertaking to tackle the costs of healthcare. Too often, many fall through the cracks of federal and state programs leading to insurmountable medical debt. I look forward to following this bill to determine if it is the right fit for our state.”
The introduction of this bill is on a par with other healthcare matters considered by the legislative branch of state government.
“Just last session, the General Assembly appropriated additional funding to our healthcare systems struggling from the effects of the pandemic, as well as creating a state-run marketplace to help our citizens acquire affordable health insurance,” Irvin said.
Irvin suggested the possibility that the House would debate how to finance the bill, including whether to use reserve funding. Irvin insists that, before any discussion about the bill can take place, the House rules and review committees need to be finalized.
“We need to get back to work,” Irvin said. “This is a time where politics need to be set aside.”
State Sen. Judy Ward declined to comment on the bill to The Daily News.
The bill likens the newly proposed state program to a similar effort that recently came to fruition at the local level in Pittsburgh.
Partnering with nonprofit RIP Medical Debt, Pittsburgh City Council invested $1 million toward alleviating the medical debt of their constituents. For this price, the city estimates it will be able to discharge $115 million of healthcare debt for about 24,000 residents.”
