Our Policy Work
Erasing medical debt provides immediate relief, but to prevent new debts we need to improve the broken healthcare system itself, by working with partners and policymakers.
Spotlight Resource
STATE PROTECTIONS ON CREDIT REPORTING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
The harms of medical debt are extensive and well-documented. While much work remains, many states are taking action to protect their residents. Banning medical debt on credit reports and screening patients for eligibility for financial assistance before sending them a bill (often called presumptive eligibility for financial assistance, or PE) are two major steps states can take to protect their residents.
Our Policy Goals
- Affordable and comprehensive health coverage
- Access to robust financial assistance (including early screening) and reasonable payment plans
- Ban extraordinary collection actions
- Evaluate cost-containment approaches based on whether they lower patient out-of-pocket costs
- Data and accountability
policy Research and resources
-
This environmental scan highlights how hospitals are addressing medical debt, identifies key gaps in evidence and reporting, and outlines strategies and opportunities for a more…
-
The medical debt crisis is a rare unifying issue for voters. States have a critical opportunity to mitigate the harms of medical debt while laying the…
-
Mind the Gap: Connecting Community Benefit and Patient Billing Leaders to Improve Health and Financial Outcomes Over the last year Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN) and Undue Medical Debt collaborated…
-
As a follow-up to our brief, Improving Presumptive Eligibility in the Age of Un(der) Insurance: Five Strategies for Accessible Financial Aid, the following primer is designed to support…
-
The data released by CMS last week on healthcare.gov enrollment signal a reversal of our progress in getting more Americans the health coverage they need. With an initial reduction of over one million lives…
-
The medical debt crisis is a rare unifying issue for voters. States have a critical opportunity to mitigate the harms of medical debt while laying the…
-
In a time of intense political rancor, medical debt stands out as a rare unifying issue. We know more than 100 million people contend with debt from medical or dental bills, often making…
-
Hospitals are in a tough spot. Drastic changes to the healthcare landscape, coupled with big increases in patient cost-sharing and the rippling effects of inflation…
-
Recent polling from Undue Medical Debt, in partnership with PerryUndem, establishes a clear mandate for state legislators. Voters of all political affiliations want their elected…
-
Undue Medical Debt recently held a joint webinar with research partners, Perry Undem, exploring new polling data that reveals strong bipartisan support for state policies…
-
SEEKING CARE IN NORTH CAROLINA? North Carolina Justice Center’s Health Resource Guide provides information on finding: low/no cost medical care, health insurance/medicaid enrollment assistance, resources…
-
Voters Show Strong Bipartisan Support for Policies that Protect People from Medical Debt New Study — October 2025 A new study sponsored by Undue Medical Debt…
Stay Informed
Subscribe to learn more about policy developments and medical debt.