Proposed Limits on Medical Debt Collection and Interest
March 13, 2026
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The Frame
If enacted, this law would have prevented medical creditors from garnishing wages, seizing bank accounts, or placing liens on homes for unpaid medical bills, while capping interest on medical debt at 2% for most patients.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Patients with medical debt
Their legal protections against aggressive collection tactics and interest charges would be expanded.
Medical debt collectors
They would be prohibited from using specific collection methods like wage garnishment or credit reporting.
Healthcare facilities
They would be required to follow new procedures for billing, financial assistance verification, and debt collection.
Last recorded activity March 13, 2026.
Introduced.
Background
- SB 1222 was a 2026 Florida legislative bill that aimed to regulate medical debt collection practices. context
- The bill failed to advance through the committee process and died in the Health Policy committee on March 13, 2026. context
Summary
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an 'extraordinary collection action' under this bill?
Could a hospital still charge me interest on my medical bill?
Can a doctor refuse to treat me if I have an unpaid bill?
Why It Matters
If enacted, this law would have prevented medical creditors from garnishing wages, seizing bank accounts, or placing liens on homes for unpaid medical bills, while capping interest on medical debt at 2% for most patients.
News Coverage
Lobbying Activity
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of ACA International
2022
“Issues surrounding the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. H.R. 4350, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, issues relating to the collection of medical debts and issues relating to student loans. S. 1605, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, issues relating to the collection of medical debts and issues relating to student loans. S. 988, Driving for Opportunity Act, all provisions. S. 4543, James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, issues relating to debt collection. H.R. 7776, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, issues relating to debt collection. ”
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of ACA International
2022
“Issues surrounding the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. H.R. 4350, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, issues relating to the collection of medical debts and issues relating to student loans. S. 1605, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, issues relating to the collection of medical debts and issues relating to student loans. S. 988, Driving for Opportunity Act, all provisions.”
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of ACA International
2022
“Issues surrounding the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. H.R.4350, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, issues relating to the collection of medical debts and issues relating to student loans.”
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of ACA International
2022
“Issues surrounding the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. H.R.4350, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, issues relating to the collection of medical debts and issues relating to student loans.”
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of ACA International
2021
“Issues surrounding the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. H.R.4350, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, issues relating to the collection of medical debts and issues relating to student loans. ”
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of ACA International
2021
“Issues surrounding the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Issues related to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 arising from the Supreme Court decision in Facebook, Inc. v. Duguid. H.R.4350, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, issues relating to the collection of medical debts and issues relating to student loans. ”
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Restriction of Credit Reporting
The bill explicitly seeks to ban the reporting of medical debt to credit bureaus, a significant shift from current standard collection practices.
Connected Entities
Sources
openstates.org
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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