Nebraska Senator John Fredrickson introduced LB315 on Wednesday. The bill would prohibit certain debt enforcement actions against those seeking medical treatment related to domestic abuse, sexual assault, trafficking, or child abuse. The bill was heard in the Judiciary Committee.
Specifically, LB315 would forbid providers of medical services, transportation, medications or other services related to the examination or treatment of a victim of the aforementioned crimes from using creditors or distributing information that could affect the credit rating of a victim, their guardian, or their family.
The bill would not prevent health care providers from seeking reimbursement for services from the survivor, insurance or other forms of payment.
“This bill will allow for greater access to medical care by alleviating the financial burden that is placed on survivors,” Fredrickson said. “As a result, medical providers can ensure that survivors are identified, situations are reported as needed and, most importantly, that [victims] are provided with appropriate support.”
Numerous people testified in favor of the bill. One testifier was Angie Lauritsen, who said that collection notices can retraumatize survivors. “Just looking at that [medical] bill is a reminder of the assault,” Lauritsen said. “The system is revictimizing assault victims through collection notices and threats of collections and that is why LB315 is needed.”
Katie Welsh, the legal director at the Women’s Center for Advancement in Omaha, also spoke in favor of the bill.
“LB315 effectively ensures that victims will not be punished for the behavior of their abusers and subject to further trauma,” Welsh said.