Virginia is one of 15 states that ban medical debt from appearing on credit reports, guarding residents against financial harm.
The CFPB’s interpretive rule suggests federal law should override protections like Virginia’s.
Since the rule isn’t legally binding, Virginia’s ban remains in place but may soon face challenges.
If courts overturn Virginia’s protections, medical debt may once again show up and impact residents’ credit scores.
This potential shift comes as healthcare costs rise across the state.
