Rep. Gabe Vasquez Fights for Medical Debt Relief for New Mexicans

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – On Wednesday, September 4, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.-02) met with seniors in Albuquerque to discuss the work he’s doing to prevent and reduce medical debt. Vasquez was also joined by the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, the Center for Civic Policy, New Mexico Legal Aid and Casa de Salud.

During the meeting, Rep. Vasquez highlighted his Patient Debt Relief Act, which would provide relief and protections to millions of Americans burdened by medical debt. The bill establishes a grant program allowing non-profit organizations to purchase medical debt from hospitals and codifies critical patient protections. 

“Suffering from a medical emergency should not mean putting your home or family’s future at risk – but too often, New Mexicans are faced with significant medical debt that threatens their financial stability. My bill will protect patients and ensure that debt collectors cannot foreclose on homes simply because of medical debt,” said Vasquez. “The Patient Debt Relief Act will provide relief to those suffering from medical debt while ensuring long-term protections for patients in New Mexico and across the country.”

The discussion with New Mexico seniors and local advocacy organizations underscored the urgency of addressing the medical debt crisis, which disproportionately impacts Hispanic families. 

“We know that thousands of patients across New Mexico, and more across the country, are being sued for unpaid medical bills — having their wages garnished, liens placed on their homes and their credit ruined — all while hospitals benefit from public funds,” said Arika E. Sánchez, Healthcare Attorney at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. “We commend and support Rep. Vasquez’s effort to prohibit hospitals from sending low-income patients to collections, placing liens or foreclosing on their homes to recover unpaid medical bills and garnishing much-needed wages.” 

The core of the Patient Debt Relief Act is a grant program directed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that enables non-profits to purchase medical debt from hospitals — often at a massive discount — significantly reducing the financial burden on patients.

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