The governor is still mulling a medical debt protections bill

GovernorGlennYoungkiniscontemplatingwhattodowith92billsonhisdesk.Andoneinvolvesmedicaldebt. MostVirginiansareonemedicalcrisisawayfrombankruptcy,accordingtoadvocates.That’swhytheGeneralAssemblypassedabilltocreatesomeprotectionsforpeoplefacingmedicaldebt. “Oneofthebigthingsthatitdoesislimitinterestandlatefeestothreepercentperyear,anditpreventsthemfromchargingthatinterestuntil90daysaftertheduedate,”saysAmandaGagoSilcoxoftheVirginiaPovertyLawCenter.“Italsopreventsanindividualbeingarrestedforclosingontheirhome,placingalienontheirpersonalpropertyorgarnishingthewagesofanybodywhoqualifiesforfinancialassistance.” Butthegovernoraddedaprovisionthatsaysnoneofthoseprotectionswillapplytoexistingmedicaldebt–onlyfuturemedicaldebt.TheGeneralAssemblyrejectedthatamendment,whichmeansthatthebillnowonthegovernor’sdeskistheonethatlawmakerssenthimbackinFebruary.ItwasintroducedbyDelegateKarrieDelaney,aDemocratfromF