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U.S. NEWS Friday 14 april 2023

States confront medical debt that’s bankrupting millions

By JESSE BEDAYN cate debt for residents. A
Associated Press/Report for New Jersey proposal would
America use federal funds from the
DENVER (AP) — Cindy Pow- American Rescue Plan Act
ers was driven into bank- to achieve the same end.
ruptcy by 19 life-saving ab- Bills in Florida and Mas-
dominal operations. Medi- sachusetts would protect
cal debt started stacking some personal property —
up for Lindsey Vance after such as a car that is need-
she crashed her skate- ed for work — from medical
board and had to get nine debt collections and force
stitches in her chin. And providers to be more trans-
for Misty Castaneda, open parent about costs. Flori-
heart surgery for a disease da’s legislation received
she’d had since birth sad- unanimous approval in
dled her with $200,000 in House and Senate commit-
bills. tees on its way to votes in
These are three of an esti- both chambers.
mated 100 million Ameri- In Colorado, New York,
cans who have amassed New Jersey, Illinois, Massa-
nearly $200 billion in collec- chusetts and the U.S. Con-
tive medical debt — almost gress lawmakers are con-
the size of Greece’s econo- templating bills that would
my — according to the Kai- The gold dome of the Colorado State Capitol on March 23, 2023, in Denver. bar medical debt from be-
ser Family Foundation. Associated Press ing included on consumer
Now lawmakers in at least scores or require greater But there are opponents. ing to a 2019 study from the reports, thereby protecting
a dozen states and the U.S. transparency in the costs Colorado Republican state American Journal of Pub- debtors’ credit scores.
Congress have pushed leg- of care. In Colorado, House Sen. Janice Rich said she lic Health. Powers’ family Castaneda, who was born
islation to curtail the finan- lawmakers approved a worried that the proposal ended up owing $250,000 with a congenital heart de-
cial burden that’s pushed measure Wednesday that could “constrain hospitals’ for the 19 life-saving ab- fect, found herself $200,000
many into untenable situ- would lower the maximum debt collecting ability and dominal surgeries. They de- in debt when she was 23
ations: forgoing needed interest rate for medical hurt their cash flow.” clared bankruptcy in 2009, and had to have surgery.
care for fear of added debt to 3%, require great- For patients, medical debt then the bank foreclosed The debt tanked her credit
debt, taking a second er transparency in costs has become a leading on their home. score and, she said, forced
mortgage to pay for can- of treatment and prohibit cause of personal bank- “Only recently have we be- her to rely on her emotion-
cer treatment or slashing debt collection during an ruptcy, with an estimated gun to pick up the pieces,” ally abusive husband’s
grocery budgets to keep appeals process. $88 billion of that debt in said James Powers, Cindy’s credit.
up with payments. If it became law, Colo- collections nationwide, ac- husband, during his Febru- For over a decade Cas-
Some of the bills would cre- rado would join Arizona in cording to the Consumer Fi- ary testimony in favor of taneda wanted out of the
ate medical debt relief pro- having one of the lowest nancial Protection Bureau. Colorado’s bill. relationship, but everything
grams or protect personal medical debt interest rates Roughly 530,000 people In Pennsylvania and Ari- they owned was in her hus-
property from collections, in the country. North Caro- reported falling into bank- zona, lawmakers are con- band’s name, making it
while others would lower in- lina lawmakers have also ruptcy annually due partly sidering medical debt relief nearly impossible to break
terest rates, keep medical started mulling a 5% interest to medical bills and time programs that would use away. She finally divorced
debt from tanking credit ceiling. away from work, accord- state funds to help eradi- her husband in 2017.q

FAA says it has sent 250 cases of unruly

passengers to FBI

By DAVID KOENIG last year but took time to for unruly behavior.”
AP Airlines Writer investigate. Airlines have The FBI did not say how
Federal officials said Thurs- reported fewer cases of often it acts on the FAA
day they have referred unruly passengers since last referrals. Assistant Direc-
more than 250 unruly airline April, when a federal judge tor Luis Quesada said the
passengers to the FBI for struck down a requirement bureau is “committed to
possible criminal prosecu- that people wear masks on investigating all incidents
tion since late 2021, includ- planes and public transpor- that fall within FBI jurisdic-
ing one as recently as last tation. Before that ruling, tion aboard commercial
month, when a man tried about two-thirds of all inci- flights,” but did not provide
to stab a flight attendant dents on planes involved numbers. People pass through Salt Lake City International Airport on Jan.
with a broken-off spoon. disputes over masks. The FAA announcement 11, 2023, in Salt Lake City.
The pace of the criminal “If you act out on a plane, about came as lawmakers Associated Press
referrals is slowing, how- you should just stay at push legislation to create of opposition from conser- clude allegations of as-
ever. The Federal Aviation home because we will a new no-fly list for people vatives and civil libertar- saults against flight atten-
Administration identified come after you with seri- convicted or fined for inter- ians. The current FBI no-fly dants and fellow passen-
17 cases it has sent to the ous consequences,” act- fering with flight crews. A list is aimed at people sus- gers, attempts to open
FBI in the first three months ing FAA Administrator Billy similar proposal backed by pected of terrorism ties. airplane exits during flights,
of this year — mostly for Nolen said in a statement. airline unions failed to gain The 17 cases that the FAA and trying to break into the
incidents that happened “We have zero tolerance ground last year in the face has referred this year in- cockpit.q