# New federal bill aims to ban wage garnishment for medical debt

> Federal bill targets medical debt wage garnishment
- Title: New federal bill aims to ban wage garnishment for medical debt
- Summary: Federal bill targets medical debt wage garnishment New bill would stop courts from taking paychecks for unpaid medical bills
- Keywords: medical debt, wage garnishment, federal bill, protecting workers wages medical debt ac, huntsville alabama, medical billing specialist, brittany andrade, news, local, federal, bill, aims
- Source: Valleynewslive — https://valleynewslive.com/2026/09/19/new-federal-bill-aims-ban-wage-garnishment-medical-debt
- Published: 2026-09-19T02:41:47.993+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: medical debt, wage garnishment, federal bill, protecting workers wages medical debt ac, huntsville alabama, medical billing specialist, brittany andrade, news, local
## Medical debt hits families
Emergency room visits can leave families facing thousands in medical bills that follow them to their paycheck.
## New federal proposal
The Protecting Workers’ Wages from Medical Debt Act aims to ban courts from garnishing paychecks for unpaid hospital and doctor bills.
## Local financial struggles
Huntsville residents face debt after car crashes and cancer treatments, with some losing state tax refunds.
## Patients can’t afford bills
Medical billing specialist Brittany Andrade says patients often can’t afford to pay medical bills despite not refusing.
## Skipping care risks worse outcomes
Fear of debt leads patients to skip doctor visits, ending up in emergency rooms with more severe conditions.
## Realistic repayment plans
Andrade pushes for repayment plans and addressing insurance-provider gaps instead of wage garnishment.
## Key takeaway

New bill would stop courts from taking paychecks for unpaid medical bills