Press Release

CSS Thanks New York State Lawmakers for Protecting Patients’ Homes and Wages from Predatory Medical Collection Actions

Contact: Jeff Maclin                                      
(212) 614-5538 (office)
(718) 309-2346 (cell)
jmaclin@cssny.org

By a vote of 47 to 15, the New York State Senate this afternoon passed Senate bill S.6522A, which protects patients from liens against their primary residences and wage garnishments due to money judgments arising from debt collection actions by hospitals or health care professionals.  The accompanying Assembly bill A.7363A passed that chamber in March. With a more than 70% approval rating, the bill is popular across the state.

This is a major victory for patients who deserve protection against predatory medical debt collection practices that contribute to housing insecurity and jeopardize their physical and fiscal health.

S.6522A is part of a package of legislation being considered by Albany lawmakers that would protect New Yorkers from hospital policies and practices that contribute to patient medical debt. The other bills are:  S.7625/A.8441, which would establish a single uniform financial assistance application for all hospitals to make it easier for patients to find and apply for assistance; and  S.2521C/A.3470C, which would ban facility fees for all preventative care and require hospital-affiliated providers to inform patients in advance if they will be charged one.

The Community Service Society thanks Senator Gustavo Rivera, Chair of the Senate Health Committee and prime sponsor of S.6522A, and Richard Gottfried, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee and prime sponsor of A.7363A, as well as members of the State Senate and State Assembly for passing this critically important piece of legislation. We now urge Governor Hochul to sign the legislation and send a strong message that New Yorkers can safely seek health care without being threatened with the most extreme medical debt collection practices. 

Issues Covered

Access to Health Care