Medical Debt Relief Act of 2026.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Appropriations
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
The Medical Debt Relief Act of 2026 aims to establish a program to help Californians burdened by medical debt. The California Health Facilities Financing Authority will administer this program, potentially acquiring medical debt directly from hospitals or debt buyers. The bill requires a stakeholder advisory group to develop recommendations for the program's operation, including criteria for prioritizing recipients for debt relief. It also mandates hospitals to report outstanding medical debt to the Department of Health Care Access and Information, providing detailed information about the debt and its impact. Finally, the bill appropriates $2.5 million to fund the program’s initial operations.
Key provisions
- Establishes the Medical Debt Relief Program administered by the California Health Facilities Financing Authority.
- Requires the Authority to enter into an agreement with the Department of Health Care Access and Information to implement the program.
- Creates a stakeholder advisory group to advise on program development and administration.
- Authorizes the Authority to contract with a medical debt relief coordinator.
- Requires hospitals to report outstanding medical debt to the Department.
- Allocates $2.5 million from the General Fund to the California Medical Debt Relief Program Account.
- Mandates the Authority to maintain a public internet website for the program.
- Requires the Authority to provide an annual report to the Legislature and Governor on the program's operations.
Who is affected
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Sponsors
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2 on record
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