Gov. Murphy signs new bill into law to prevent New Jerseyans from falling into medical debt

NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Gov. Phil Murphy signed a new bill into law Monday to help people suffering from medical debts.

The Louisa Carmen Medical Debt Relief Act was named after a 25-year-old Murphy Administration staffer who was killed in a car accident on New Year’s Day this year.

Murphy says she worked tirelessly to help people suffering under the crushing burden of medical debt and this bill was her passion project.

“In the years to come, families up and down our state will be able to access the care they need and sleep easier at night because of the reforms included in this legislation,” Murphy said. “It will protect generations of New Jerseyans from falling into medical debt and facing the risk of financial ruin.”

Murphy says the bill will also bring dignity to the billing process and provide time to recover, as no bills will be given to patients while they’re still recovering at the hospital.

Most importantly, he says nobody will have to choose between seeking care or falling into often inescapable debt.