District of Columbia · 2025-2026 Regular Session
As introduced, Bill 26-438 would, among other things, require facilities to offer payment plans to low-income patients with unpaid medical bills and prohibit the reporting of medical debt to credit reporting agencies. It would prohibit wage garnishments, home liens for medical debt and prohibit lawsuits and collection actions in certain cases. It would also establish uniform income eligibility criteria and require documentation to prove income. It would require facilities to provide good faith estimates about the cost of health care services to patients before treatment, except in emergency circumstances. It would also grant enforcement power to DC Health and the Office of the Attorney General. FISCAL NOTE - This bill is passed Subject to Appropriations. Please see the Fiscal Impact Statement for more information.
Final Reading, CC (2026-06-02)