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Bill sponsor @LCharkoudian is now presenting #HB565: the Medical Debt Protection Act to the House Health & Government Operations Committee. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm. https://twitter.com/EMDMaryland/status/1361784779843268610
. @LCharkoudian: The bill provides an outline to hospitals to work with patients regarding their medical debt, such as easy payment options. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
Amy Hennen with @mvlsprobono is speaking about her client’s struggle with medical billing processes: “My client Anne was a prime candidate for a hospital financial assistance program but was never made aware of it,” Hennen says. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
Nick Mostris, a Harford County resident, is sharing his family’s experience with medical debt and predatory hospital lawsuits. “I am here to seek justice for families like mine still struggling under the burden of medical debt,” says Mostris. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
“How is it right for hospitals to profit off the sick and dying? Why is it okay for hospitals to take family homes?” Nick Mostris asks the HGO Committee. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
Ashley Black, an attorney with the @PublJusticeCntr is now speaking about racial disparities and social determinants of health, and highlighting how medical debt harms health outcomes. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
Families risk housing and food security when they have a threat of medical debt lawsuit. Marylanders of color suffer disproportionately with the outcomes of these lawsuits, notes Ashley. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
We just heard from Brig Dumais of @1199SEIU_MDDC about the importance of prohibiting wage garnishment and protecting our frontline workers, especially in light of #COVID19. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
Dumais, our coalition chair, noted: “Garnishing essential workers' wages, especially during a pandemic, is unacceptable, particularly because essential workers are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19." #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
Marceline White with @mdconsumers just spoke about widespread bipartisan support for the bill, noting that compromises have been made in good faith with the Maryland Hospital Association to move #HB565 forward. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
@marcelineawhite: This is a racial justice issue. There is evidence of higher collection efforts in majority Black communities than in white communities. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
. @marcelineawhite responds to a question from @DelegateBagnall on the results of a poll commissioned by @mdconsumers: 12% of Marylanders have a medical debt they cannot pay. 29% of Marylanders do not know about the financial assistance policies available. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
"Even when you have insurance, a lot of our working families can’t handle an unexpected $1,000 or $2,000 bill," @marcelineawhite points out. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
Jennifer Witten with @mhaonline is now putting forward unfavorable testimony in opposition to #HB565. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
“We think that we really need to look at this issue...and look at what’s driving this issue. So with that we ask for an unfavorable report on this bill," says Witten of #HB565. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
. @DelegateBagnall asks Witten, "is there a path to yes?" for @mhaonline to be on board with #HB565. #MDGA21 #SueNoHarm.
