With some exceptions, medical can no longer be reported by providers in California

As another example of the popular sentiment turning against some medical billing practices, California has passed legislation banning providers from sharing medical debt with credit reporting agencies. The article notes that "credit reporting is the most common collection tactic used by hospitals to get patients to pay their bills. A credit score ban might make it more difficult for hospitals to collect."

It seems unclear how providers in California will react to this new legislation. For example, perhaps more hospitals will require an initial payment before major surgeries that are not emergencies. Nevertheless, the rationale offered seems logical: "medical debt — unlike other kinds of debt — isn't an accurate reflection of credit risk". If that is the case, it seems appropriate that medical debt should not factor into one's credit score.