This bill aims to prohibit medical creditors and medical debt collectors from reporting any information related to medical debt to consumer reporting agencies. It establishes that such a violation will be classified as a Class 2 misdemeanor. The bill also defines key terms related to the legislation, including "consumer reporting agency," "medical creditor," "medical debt," and "medical debt collector," to clarify the scope and application of the law.
By preventing the reporting of medical debt, the bill seeks to protect consumers from potential negative impacts on their credit scores due to medical expenses, which can often be unexpected and burdensome. This legislative measure reflects a growing recognition of the need to address the financial challenges posed by medical debt and its implications for consumer credit.