Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), in collaboration with Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), is calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy to expose shady health care billing practices that lead to increased levels of medical debt.
“We are writing to request you investigate and provide recommendations to Congress for addressing inappropriate health care billing practices that lead to high levels of medical debt,” the Senators wrote in a joint letter, according to a press release from the Florida Senator’s office.
“Despite efforts by Congress and President Trump to insulate patients from ‘surprise’ medical bills in the No Surprises Act, after four years of runaway inflation and increasing health costs under the Biden administration, instances of high medical debt continue to be a top concern for our constituents,” they added.
Both Senators recognize the growing concern among Americans about high medical debt, citing reports that hospital bills issued to uninsured patients are often higher than the actual cost of the services they are provided.
According to the press release, roughly 14 million Americans owe more than $1000 in medical debt. Of those 14 million, 3 million have reached amounts that exceed $10,000.
Nearly 80% of the aggregate medical debt owed in the U.S. is derived from those 3 million patients.
Citing a 2022 survey, the media release indicated that over 70% of Americans owing more than $1000 in medical debt are due to hospital bills.
Additionally, an analysis of hospital pricing released in Apr. 2026 found that “facilities on average charge the uninsured almost five times what Medicare pays for the same procedure.”
“Recent academic work on initiatives to address symptoms, such as the largest study of medical debt relief programs involving over 83,000 individuals, found ‘no evidence that buying and then forgiving medical debts that are in collections improved on average beneficiaries’ finances, access to credit, or their physical or mental health," the duo wrote, criticizing current and previous administration's efforts to combat high medical debt.
In your investigation, which should include Alaska and Florida, we encourage you to investigate root causes of instances of inordinately high medical debt,” the Senators charged.
