INDIANAPOLIS— State Senator Fady Qaddoura (D-Indianapolis) announced today a package of healthcare legislation aimed at tackling medical debt and expanding access to affordable care. Sen. Qaddoura, joined by key stakeholders who inspired the proposals, emphasized the importance of addressing financial and systemic barriers in healthcare.

The first bill in the package addresses the growing issue of medical debt in Indiana.

“No one should have to carry the burden of illness into every aspect of their life, especially their financial future,” Sen. Qaddoura said. “My comprehensive legislation takes a two-pronged approach to tackling medical debt: first, by easing the burden for those who have already accrued it, and second, by preventing future patients from facing crippling debt. A medical diagnosis should not be a life sentence to financial instability. It’s time to ensure that Hoosiers—especially our most vulnerable—can live healthy, fulfilling lives without the weight of medical debt holding them back.”

Earlier this week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced the new ban on the inclusion of medical bills on credit reports and prohibit lenders from using that information in lending decisions. Sen. Qaddoura’s proposal expands those financial protections to include protections against wage garnishment, property liens and caps interest rates that are imposed on medical debt collections.

The second bill in Sen. Qaddoura’s healthcare package requires nonprofit and county hospitals to offer no-cost services to patients with household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

“It is the responsibility of nonprofit and county hospitals to serve medically vulnerable Hoosiers, especially senior citizens and low-income patients,” said Sen. Qaddoura. “If a patient qualifies, they should receive care at no cost. With Indiana’s healthcare system being one of the most costly in the nation, many Hoosiers can’t keep up. This legislation ensures that necessary, life-saving services remain accessible to those who need them most.”

The proposed legislation reflects Sen. Qaddoura’s commitment to addressing inequities in healthcare and ensuring that all Hoosiers have access to affordable, high-quality care.