Congress blocks courts from seizing workers' wages for medical bills
H.R. 10373 — Protecting Workers' Wages from Medical Debt Act · Filed by Bobby Scott (D-VA) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Sep 14, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to prohibit wage garnishment for medical debt. It bars courts and states from ordering employers to withhold workers' wages to pay medical bills, and defines medical debt as obligations arising from health care facilities or providers. The prohibition takes effect 6 months after enactment.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is a prohibition on a specific debt-collection practice (wage garnishment for medical debt). It is a straightforward protective measure with no secondary provisions or riders.
What the text implies
- The bill does not address existing medical debt already subject to garnishment orders; it applies prospectively only, leaving workers with pre-existing judgments unprotected.
- Medical creditors may shift collection tactics to other remedies (bank account levies, liens, credit reporting) not addressed by this bill, potentially increasing pressure on other assets.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who it affects
Workers gain a concrete protection: their wages cannot be seized to pay medical debt, preserving income for living expenses and reducing the coercive power of medical creditors. This is a direct restraint on a collection mechanism that disproportionately harms lower-income workers who cannot absorb wage loss.