In Pennsylvania, 11% of residents have medical debt and most of them live in rural areas.

A 2024 study found that patients in rural areas were more likely to have medical debt than those living in urban city centers.

 

 

Pennsylvania counties and what percent of their population has medical debt; the more red, the higher the percent.
Pennsylvania counties and what percent of their population has medical debt; the more red, the higher the percent. Jama Network

 

For low income households—or those who just have crazy huge bills- the burden can ruin lives.

“No one chooses to have medical debt. We are the only industrialized country in the world where this happens because of the nature of how we finance health insurance,” Rep. Arvind Venkat (D-Allegheny) said. He is the sponsor of H.B. 79, legislation that would give medical debt relief.

“We're trying to get at this problem in two different ways,” Venkat said. "Acute relief, as well as preventing new medical debt from coming into being.”

H.B. 79 would allow the state to buy medical debts at a much reduced price from the original fee. Then the program would forgive the debts— at random—for eligible residents.

As for preventing new debt— initial education is key.

“The majority of hospitals are nonprofit hospitals, so they have requirements to provide financial assistance to low income Pennsylvanians,” Antoinette Kraus said, the executive director of Pennsylvania Health Access Network. The advocacy groups helps patients know their rights and options when it comes to getting and paying for healthcare

"Right now, the application process is confusing. It’s fragmented. People sometimes have to submit multiple applications,” Kraus said.

H.B. 79 creates one, streamlined application for financial assistance. It also mandates screening for if someone qualifies for health insurance.

The bill was introduced last session for the first time (as H.B.78) and received some bipartisan support. This year, three Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors. Rep. Jim Rigby (R-Cambria) said his support for the bill stems from its impact on rural populations like his constituency.

“You know, it addresses our most vulnerable,” Rigby said. "And it also helps to address our rural hospitals that aren't receiving any monies."

Medical debt relief is one piece of the rural healthcare crisis that lawmakers want to address this session.