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S. 4622119th CongressIn committeeLatest action May 21, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
The PATCH Act would ban medical debt from credit reports and bar lenders from using it in loan decisions.
50-second read · 4 questions answered below
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.
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.
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.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
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.