Senate bill would strip medical debt from consumer credit reports
In committeeS. 4622Latest action
Sponsor: John Kennedy · Senator · LA
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: PATCH Act
119th Congress
Topics: Jobs & the economy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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The PATCH Act would ban medical debt from credit reports and bar lenders from using it in loan decisions.
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What does this do?
The PATCH Act would prohibit credit reporting agencies from including medical debt on consumer credit reports. It would also require the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to update its rules within one year so lenders cannot use medical debt information when deciding whether to approve a loan or line of credit. The bill does not cancel medical debt — people would still owe the money.
Who does it affect?
The bill affects tens of millions of Americans who have unpaid medical bills, including debt owed to hospitals, doctors, or for medical equipment. Lenders, credit reporting agencies including Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and medical debt collectors would also need to change how they handle this information.
Why does it matter?
Currently, unpaid medical bills can appear on credit reports and lower credit scores, affecting access to mortgages, car loans, and credit cards. Under this bill, medical debt could no longer be reported or used in lending decisions, which would require lenders and credit agencies to revise existing practices.
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Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedMay 21, 2026
- Senate committeeYou are here · May 21, 2026
- Senate vote
- House
- The president's desk
Right now: a Senate committee is reviewing it. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.