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What States Can Do to Protect Low-Income Families When Collecting Government Debts

November 21, 2025

State debt collection efforts can conflict with state anti-poverty programs. This issue brief discusses how states that seize income tax refunds to collect debts owed to the state may also be seizing safety-net payments such as state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit (CTC) funds. States should follow California’s example to protect…

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What States Can Do About Medical Debt in Jails and Prisons

October 17, 2025

Many jails and prisons charge various fees, such as medical co-pays, emergency fees, prescription co-pays, medical device fees, and fees for necessary hygiene items. This issue brief discusses the problems caused by such fees and proposes state solutions.

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U.S. House Bill Would Protect Collection Attorneys Engaged in Abusive Litigation Conduct

May 30, 2025

A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 3213, Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Action of 2025 (Fitzgerald, Barr, and Meuser), would harm consumers by removing important protections against abusive litigation conduct by attorneys. This bill would: Congress amended the FDCPA in 1986 to prevent abusive collection practices by attorneys. H.R. 3213 would protect attorneys…

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What States Can Do to Prevent Medical Debt from Ruining Credit Reports: Recommendations in the Face of Potential Federal Preemption Threats

November 14, 2025

State advocates seeking to remove medical debts from credit reports face a new landscape that threatens to undo their work. State laws and bills to ban medical debt credit reporting may need to be modified to protect against a now-hostile federal administration that may attempt to preempt them. This policy brief provides two suggestions to…

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What States Can Do to Help Consumers: Medicaid Estate Recovery

May 5, 2025

Medicaid plays a crucial role in ensuring that millions of working-class, aging, and disabled individuals can receive necessary long-term services and supports (LTSS) in their own homes and communities. Federal policy, however, forces state Medicaid programs to pursue recovery of LTSS costs accrued at age 55 and older from the estates of deceased beneficiaries, often…

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2025 Consumer Reform Priorities to Protect Tenants

April 18, 2025

The housing crisis for low- and moderate-income renters continues. The new Administration’s actions, such as potential cuts to staff and programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, will likely exacerbate it. These developments add to the existing challenges of a severe shortage of affordable, decent housing; spiking rent increases; and abuses by corporate…

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S1310/A4598 Will Harm NJ Consumers

April 9, 2025

S1310/A4598 will hurt New Jersey consumers by legalizing debt adjustment, also known as debt settlement. Debt adjustment is one of the worst options for people in debt.

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Why Debt Settlement is Bad for People in Debt

April 8, 2025

Debt settlement doesn’t work. It hurts people in debt. And it hurts businesses too. This document lists the many reasons why consumers should avoid debt settlement companies and why state legislators should do more to restrict it.

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What States Can Do: Medical Credit Cards and Other Medical Lending Products

October 16, 2025

Medical bills often end up on credit cards, including medical credit cards and other medical lending products. These products are marketed specifically to pay for medical expenses and are typically offered directly by health care providers, particularly dentists. Patients used cards or loans with deferred interest terms to pay for almost $23 billion in healthcare…

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Selected Resources About Medical Lending Products

February 25, 2025

CFPB Resources: Community Catalyst Resources: NCLC Resources: Other Resources:

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The CFPB Medical Debt Collection Advisory Opinion Protects Consumers from Illegal Collection Practices

February 4, 2025

The CFPB issued an advisory opinion to remind debt collectors that attempting to collect medical debts that are not owed and certain other tactics are unlawful under the FDCPA.

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CFPB’s Medical Debt Credit Reporting Rule Is a Lifeline to 15M People

January 31, 2025

The rule will help people with unjustly lowered credit scores by lessening medical debt’s impacts and relieving pressure to pay wrongful bills The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) medical debt credit reporting rule will remove medical bills from credit reports sent to lenders by companies like Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. The rule also prohibits lenders…

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