Gabel-Backed Bill Protecting Patient Homes from Hospital Legal Action Passes Both Chambers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Working to protect homeowners from medical debt, state Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, is sending a bill to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk ensuring patients’ primary residence and property cannot be used in legal action by hospitals seeking to recover unpaid medical debt.

 

“I’m backing this measure because it supports the autonomy of patients and protects their crucial assets while they deal with hospital debts,” said Gabel. “This bill ensures that hospitals cannot legally upend every part of patients’ lives while trying to collect payments for care.”

 

Medical debt remains one of the leading causes of bankruptcy nationwide, according to the National Library of Medicine, with nearly half of U.S. adults finding it difficult to afford healthcare.

 

The Gabel-backed House Bill 4461 takes an important step to continue the fight against medical debt and protect patients’ homes and property by changing the law to disqualify any Illinois hospital from pursuing liens on patients’ primary residences during legal action should a patient have accrued medical debt. The initiative is driven by local resident reports of aggressive collection actions, including liens being placed on homes for medical debts as low as $2,000. 

 

“It’s time to make sure that patients are protected as they recover and face debt repayments for their treatments,” said Gabel. “Your personal home and property should not be at risk because you sought medical care when you needed it.”

 

Health care debt relief has been a priority for Gabel. Last year, Gabel served as Chief Budgeteer and played a crucial role in securing funding for the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program. This program combats issues of crippling medical debt for constituents by purchasing outstanding debts of low-income Illinois residents with state support. With an initial investment of $10 million, the initiative has already eliminated over $1 billion in medical debt for Illinoisans.

 

Additional information about the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program can be found at https://hfs.illinois.gov/info/medicaldebtrelief.html. House Bill 4461 has now passed out of both chambers and will head to the governor for consideration.