U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., proposed legislation Friday that aims to improve Americans credit scores by ensuring any ‘paid medical debts’ are removed from a person’s credit report within 45 days.
While a delinquency tied to a medical bill may seem less serious than a mortgage default, lawmakers are upset with the practice of allowing late payments tied to medical debt to stick to a borrower’s credit report for an infinite period of time.
Waters believes the practice creates downward pressure on credit scores, freezing out access to mortgages and other lines of credit.
Waters’ bill – H.R. 1767 – is the sister legislation to Senate Bill 160 introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.
Waters and the bill’s co-sponsors also asked the Government Accountability office to review whether medical financing options provided to consumers are fair and transparent.
