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HR 1238 109th Congress House Finance and Financial Sector Commerce Consumer credit Consumer protection Credit cards Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Health Hospital rates Hospitals Interest rates Medical economics Medical fees

Medical Bills Interest Rate Relief Act

Introduced: March 10, 2005 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 6, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.
Mar 10, 2005
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Mar 10, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E418)
Mar 10, 2005
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Medical Bills Interest Rate Relief Act - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) no American family or individual should be forced to choose between the health and life of a loved one and the financial constraints of medical care; (2) financial institutions, including credit card issuers, should not take financial advantage of unforeseen, nonpreventive, or catastrophic medical situations; and (3) individuals or families saddled with large medical bills should receive a fair and equitable credit rating that disregards off-schedule medical bill payments.

Amends the Truth in Lending Act to prescribe guidelines governing the obligations of credit card issuers for credit extended to pay medical expenses.

Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit a hospital or other medical treatment facility from submitting to a consumer reporting agency during a five-year period any negative information regarding the failure of a consumer to maintain full payments for medical expenses if the consumer continues in good faith to make partial payments on the outstanding balance on prescribed payment schedule due dates.

What's happening now May 6, 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1238: Medical Bills Interest Rate Relief Act. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1238/
MLA
"H.R. 1238: Medical Bills Interest Rate Relief Act." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1238/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1238, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1238/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1238: Medical Bills Interest Rate Relief Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-1238/)
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