CONGRESSWOMAN JOHNSON SUPPORTS THE MEDICAL DEBT RELIEF ACT
Ensures Americans Who Have Fully Paid Their Medical Bills Are Not Penalized For Bad Health With A Poor Credit Report

Washington, DC — (Wednesday, September 29, 2010) Today, Congresswoman Johnson voted in favor of  the H.R. 3421 “Medical Debt Relief Act” that amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit paid-off or settled medical debt from appearing on a consumer’s credit report.

Because medical debt is different than other types of consumer debt, it is believed that medical debt should be treated differently. The nature of medical debt is involuntary and the costs associated with medical care are often not known until well after the care has been provided.

“I am pleased that this bill has overwhelmingly passed with bi-partisan support,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “It’s clear that people with medical conditions should not suffer from unfavorable credit reporting.”

In 2003, the Federal Reserve reported that more than 50% of collection agency actions reported to credit bureaus were from medical bills. Reports to credit bureaus can significantly reduce a consumer’s credit worthiness and ultimately restrict their access to credit, insurance, rental housing and livelihood.

 
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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.