CA bill aims to eradicate medical debt

(The Center Square) – A new bill introduced in the Legislature is designed to erase crushing medical debt for Californians. Assembly Bill 2123, introduced by California Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, D-Davis, would establish a medical debt relief program to be paid for by $2.5 million of general fund revenues, according to a legislative analysis. “When this debt goes to collections, it can damage credit for years, making it hard to secure housing, employment and loans,” Aguiar-Curry testified during a Tuesday bill hearing in the Assembly Health Committee. “As a result, many Californians go without necessary care or struggle with basic resources.” There was no testimony in opposition to Aguiar-Curry’s bill on Tuesday, and no groups or individuals have opposed the bill so far this year, according to the legislative analysis. Aguiar-Curry’s bill stipulates that the California Health Facilities Financing Author