At the office of the Vermont Health Care Advocate, we often hear from Vermonters who are forced to make impossible choices between getting medical treatment and paying for basic needs like food, housing and heat.

Our office sees the toll that medical debt takes on families. When we interviewed Vermonters across the state about the impact of medical debt on their lives, the message was clear: they appreciate the care they received, they like and trust their providers and want them to be paid but often simply do not have the money. As a result, Vermonters too often avoid necessary care because they are afraid of incurring debt they will not be able to pay back.

State Treasurer Mike Pieciak recently put forward a proposal — S.27 — to eliminate up to $100 million of medical debt with a one-time investment of just $1 million. Requiring no additional state spending, the program would provide immediate relief to thousands of Vermonters. The bill would also protect Vermonters’ credit scores from being impacted by medical debt.

Medical debt is different from other types of debt. No one chooses to get sick or injured, and yet our health care system too often punishes people for getting the care they need. The fact that the United States has at least $220 billion dollars of medical debt makes clear that this is a problem with our health care system, not individual failing.

The treasurer’s medical debt relief proposal is a meaningful step in the right direction. We also hope the fact that Vermonters have at least $100 million in medical debt to be forgiven is evidence enough of the need for bold, systemic reform to fix our broken health care system. Vermont must urgently lower healthcare prices and costs to ensure that all Vermonters can get the care they need at the right place, at the right time.

I appreciate the leadership of Treasurer Pieciak and legislative leaders for bringing this proposal forward. and urge the Legislature to pass S. 27 this session.

Mike Fisher

Bristol