Earlier this month, Senators Reverend Warnock, Kennedy released a new white paper analyzing county-level data across the country to examine counties with both high rates of uninsured people and high rates of diabetes—which the Senators termed “Insulin Deserts”

At today’s Senate Banking committee hearing, Senator Reverend Warnock released new evidence that nearly half of Insulin Deserts have high levels of medical debt

The Senator questioned the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra on how the agency is working to address medical debt—particularly unfair medical debt collection and credit reporting practices

This line of questioning was especially relevant for Georgia, which is one of the few states yet to expand Medicaid

Senator Reverend Warnock:“[Medical debt] matters because so many Americans are crushed under high health care costs and they usually don’t have a choice about whether or not they need that medical attention,” said Senator Warnock. “Whether it’s in the budget or not, sometimes you just need to go to the doctor. And this is particularly true for those who are living with diabetes, especially in a state like Georgia, that sadly has not expanded Medicaid.”

WATCH: Senator Warnock pushes CFPB Chair to prioritize medical debt

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), chair of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection, questioned Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Rohit Chopra on how the agency is working to address medical debt—particularly unfair medical debt collection and credit reporting practices. The Senator’s questions are more relevant than ever following new findings that nearly half of insulin deserts, counties with both high rates of uninsured people and high rates of diabetes, have high rates of medical debt. The term “Insulin Deserts” was coined in a white paper released by Senators Warnock and John Kennedy (R-LA) illustrating the urgent need for a federal law to lower high insulin costs. Senators Warnock and Kennedy are leading the charge to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for everyone. 

“[Medical debt] matters because so many Americans are crushed under high health care costs and they usually don’t have a choice about whether or not they need that medical attention,” said Senator Warnock.“Whether it’s in the budget or not, sometimes you just need to go to the doctor. And this is particularly true for those who are living with diabetes, especially in a state like Georgia, that sadly has not expanded Medicaid. And as a result, many of the counties in Georgia are a part of, what I call in a recent report released by my office, “Insulin Deserts.” We released this bipartisan report earlier this month. There’s some 813 counties all across our country with high rates of Americans who are uninsured and [high rates of those who] have diabetes. And thus, they are left unprotected from high insulin costs and particularly vulnerable to medical debt. In fact, in preparation for this hearing, my office found that 365 Insulin Deserts, nearly half, also have high rates of medical debt.

The Senator has regularly spoken on the need to address medical debt, including the effects that closing the Medicaid coverage gap would have on ameliorating medical debt for Georgians. Last year, Senator Warnock successfully urged Director Rohit Chopra to take immediate action on growing medical debt burdens faced by consumers.

See below key excerpts from Senator Warnock’s questioning during this week’s Senate Banking committee hearing:

·         Senator Warnock (SW): “[Medical debt] matters because so many Americans are crushed under high health care costs and they usually don’t have a choice about whether or not they need that medical attention. Whether it’s in the budget or not, sometimes you just need to go to the doctor. And this is particularly true for those who are living with diabetes, especially in a state like Georgia, that sadly has not expanded Medicaid. And as a result, many of the counties in Georgia are a part of, what I call in a recent report released by my office, insulin deserts. We released this bipartisan report earlier this month. There’s some 813 counties all across our country with high rates of Americans who are uninsured and [high rates of those who]have diabetes. And thus, they are left unprotected from high insulin costs and particularly vulnerable to medical debt. In fact, in preparation for this hearing, my office found that 365 insulin deserts, nearly half, also have high rates of medical debt. So, Director Chopra, what is the CFPB doing to address medical debt? Particularly unfair medical debt collection and credit reporting practices?”

·         Director Rohit Chopra:  “…You know, in my past , I looked hard at the issue of potential price fixing by insulin providers. I think, when we talk about medical debt, we also have to remember that this might ultimately lead people to not get care that they need to live… We know we have a system that is not working. And then on top of it, Senator, when I went to Georgia and met with, you know, some of your constituents… talked about how medical debt is affecting people locally. And really, it is now the largest item of delinquency on credit reports. We have studied this exhaustively and we are currently initiating the process to—and we may end up proposing that medical debt be ineligible for reporting on credit reports given the unique dynamics and the widespread inaccuracies. I really hate to see that medical debt, especially when people are sick, being forced to pay even when they may not even owe, almost coerced to pay it and we want to, we want to really address this.”

·         SW: “… about one and four in our country have reported that they’ve ration their insulin at some point or another. And so, I’m interested in exploring how Congress can work with CFPB to protect consumers, especially those with chronic illnesses from medical debt. So, thank you for your work. I think that as a start, we can pass my bipartisan bill that I put forward with Senator Kennedy and others to cap the cost of insulin for everybody that would help prevent people with diabetes from going into medical debt in the first place. And I look forward to continuing to work with you on this important issue and exploring medical debt more in my subcommittee in Congress.”

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