Colorado Leads on Medical Debt Protections, Even as Health Care Costs Remain ‘Out of Control’

Colorado lawmakers have advanced several policies in recent years to lessen the burden of medical debt, reports Colorado Newsline. One such policy removes medical debt from consumer credit reports, impacting an estimated 700,000 residents. Another recent law caps the allowable interest on the debt to 3 percent and aims to ensure transparency with consumers. About 11 percent of Coloradans have medical debt in collections, with a median amount of $693.