Some respite from the extremism of absurd medical bills - Michigan lawmakers introducing legislation aimed at reducing

Michigan lawmakers introducing legislation aimed at reducing medical costs

Michigan lawmakers are introducing legislation they said will reduce medical costs for patients. The bills would strengthen rules for financial assistance programs in hospitals and remove medical debt from consumer credit reports.

Senator Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) is the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. She said the priority is to make life more affordable for people across the state.

“Healthcare costs are one of the biggest expenses for families,” Anthony continued. She said that roughly 700,000 Michigan residents have some type of medical debt, which places a particularly heavy burden on moderate and low income families.

Senate Bills 449-451 would require hospitals to offer financial assistance to patients who owe the hospital one or more unpaid medical bills that amount to more than 30% of their annual income. The legislation would also offer up to a 100% discount for uninsured patients whose annual income is at or below 350% of the federal poverty level.

https://www.michiganpublic.org/health/2025-11-19/michigan-lawmakers-introducing-legislation-aimed-at-reducing-medical-costs