| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXIS TING LAW. | |
| 4 | 4 | [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. | |
| 5 | - | Underlining indicates amendments to bill. | |
| 6 | - | Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by | |
| 7 | - | amendment. | |
| 8 | 5 | *sb0614* | |
| 9 | 6 | ||
| 10 | 7 | SENATE BILL 614 | |
| 11 | 8 | I3, J3 5lr2316 | |
| 12 | - | CF | |
| 9 | + | CF 5lr2315 | |
| 13 | 10 | By: Senator Lam | |
| 14 | 11 | Introduced and read first time: January 24, 2025 | |
| 15 | 12 | Assigned to: Finance | |
| 16 | - | Committee Report: Favorable with amendments | |
| 17 | - | Senate action: Adopted | |
| 18 | - | Read second time: March 18, 2025 | |
| 19 | 13 | ||
| 20 | - | ||
| 14 | + | A BILL ENTITLED | |
| 21 | 15 | ||
| 22 | 16 | AN ACT concerning 1 | |
| 23 | 17 | ||
| 24 | 18 | Consumer Protection – Credit Reporting – Medical Debt 2 | |
| 25 | 19 | (Fair Medical Debt Reporting Act) 3 | |
| 26 | 20 | ||
| 27 | 21 | FOR the purpose of prohibiting a consumer reporting agency from including certain 4 | |
| 28 | 22 | medical debt information in a consumer report; prohibiting a person from using 5 | |
| 29 | 23 | medical debt information included in a consumer report when making a 6 | |
| 30 | 24 | creditworthiness determination; prohibiting certain entities from disclosing medical 7 | |
| 31 | 25 | debt to a consumer reporting agency; requiring certain entities to include a certain 8 | |
| 32 | 26 | provision in contracts entered into with a collection entity regarding medical debt 9 | |
| 33 | 27 | and establishing a contract that does not contain the provision is void and 10 | |
| 34 | 28 | unenforceable; and generally relating to credit reporting and medical debt. 11 | |
| 35 | 29 | ||
| 36 | 30 | BY adding to 12 | |
| 37 | 31 | Article – Commercial Law 13 | |
| 38 | 32 | Section 14–1213 14 | |
| 39 | 33 | Annotated Code of Maryland 15 | |
| 40 | 34 | (2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16 | |
| 41 | 35 | ||
| 42 | - | BY repealing and reenacting, | |
| 36 | + | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 17 | |
| 43 | 37 | Article – Health – General 18 | |
| 44 | - | Section 19–214.2( | |
| 38 | + | Section 19–214.2(f) 19 | |
| 45 | 39 | Annotated Code of Maryland 20 | |
| 46 | 40 | (2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 21 | |
| 47 | 41 | ||
| 48 | - | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 22 2 SENATE BILL 614 | |
| 42 | + | BY adding to 22 | |
| 43 | + | Article – Health – General 23 | |
| 44 | + | Section 24–2501 and 24–2502 be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 25. Medical Debt 24 | |
| 45 | + | Reporting” 25 | |
| 46 | + | Annotated Code of Maryland 26 | |
| 47 | + | (2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 27 | |
| 48 | + | 2 SENATE BILL 614 | |
| 49 | 49 | ||
| 50 | 50 | ||
| 51 | - | Article – Health – General 1 | |
| 52 | - | Section 19–214.2(f) 19–214.2(b) and (f) 2 | |
| 53 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland 3 | |
| 54 | - | (2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 4 | |
| 51 | + | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1 | |
| 52 | + | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2 | |
| 55 | 53 | ||
| 56 | - | BY adding to 5 | |
| 57 | - | Article – Health – General 6 | |
| 58 | - | Section 24–2501 and 24–2502 be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 25. Medical Debt 7 | |
| 59 | - | Reporting” 8 | |
| 60 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland 9 | |
| 61 | - | (2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 10 | |
| 54 | + | Article – Commercial Law 3 | |
| 62 | 55 | ||
| 63 | - | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11 | |
| 64 | - | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12 | |
| 56 | + | 14–1213. 4 | |
| 65 | 57 | ||
| 66 | - | Article – Commercial Law 13 | |
| 58 | + | (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION, “MEDICAL DEBT ” MEANS AN OBLIGATION OF A 5 | |
| 59 | + | CONSUMER TO PAY ANY AMOUNT RELATED TO TH E RECEIPT OF HEALTH CARE 6 | |
| 60 | + | SERVICES, PRODUCTS, DEVICES, DURABLE MEDICAL EQUI PMENT, OR 7 | |
| 61 | + | PRESCRIPTION DRUGS P ROVIDED TO A PERSON BY: 8 | |
| 67 | 62 | ||
| 68 | - | 14–1213. 14 | |
| 63 | + | (I) A HEALTH CARE FACILITY AS DEFINED IN § 19–114 OF THE 9 | |
| 64 | + | HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE; 10 | |
| 69 | 65 | ||
| 70 | - | (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION, “MEDICAL DEBT ” MEANS AN OBLIGATION OF A 15 | |
| 71 | - | CONSUMER TO PAY ANY AMOUNT RELATED TO TH E RECEIPT OF HEALTH CARE 16 | |
| 72 | - | SERVICES, PRODUCTS, DEVICES, DURABLE MEDICAL EQUI PMENT, OR 17 | |
| 73 | - | PRESCRIPTION DRUGS P ROVIDED TO A PERSON BY: 18 | |
| 66 | + | (II) A HEALTH CARE PRACTITI ONER AS DEFINED IN § 19–114 OF 11 | |
| 67 | + | THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE; OR 12 | |
| 74 | 68 | ||
| 75 | - | ( | |
| 76 | - | ||
| 69 | + | (III) AN AMBULANCE SERVICE AS DEFINED IN § 13–515 OF THE 13 | |
| 70 | + | EDUCATION ARTICLE. 14 | |
| 77 | 71 | ||
| 78 | - | (II) A HEALTH CARE PRACTITI ONER AS DEFINED IN § 19–114 OF 21 | |
| 79 | - | THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE; OR 22 | |
| 72 | + | (2) “MEDICAL DEBT” INCLUDES MEDICAL BIL LS THAT: 15 | |
| 80 | 73 | ||
| 81 | - | (III) AN AMBULANCE SERVICE AS DEFINED IN § 13–515 OF THE 23 | |
| 82 | - | EDUCATION ARTICLE DEBT OWED BY A CONSU MER TO: 24 | |
| 74 | + | (I) ARE NOT PAST DUE ; OR 16 | |
| 83 | 75 | ||
| 84 | - | (I) A PERSON WHOSE PRIMARY BUSINESS IS PROVIDIN G 25 | |
| 85 | - | MEDICAL SERVICES , PRODUCTS, OR DEVICES; OR 26 | |
| 76 | + | (II) HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAI D. 17 | |
| 86 | 77 | ||
| 87 | - | (II) THE PERSON’S AGENT OR ASSIGNEE FOR THE PROVISION OF 27 | |
| 88 | - | MEDICAL SERVICES , PRODUCTS, OR DEVICES. 28 | |
| 78 | + | (3) “MEDICAL DEBT ” DOES NOT INCLUDE DEB T CHARGED TO A 18 | |
| 79 | + | CREDIT CARD UNLESS T HE CREDIT CARD IS IS SUED UNDER AN OPEN –ENDED OR A 19 | |
| 80 | + | CLOSE–ENDED PLAN OFFERED S PECIFICALLY FOR THE PAYMENT OF HEALTH CA RE 20 | |
| 81 | + | SERVICES, PRODUCTS, DEVICES, DURABLE MEDICAL EQUI PMENT, OR 21 | |
| 82 | + | PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. 22 | |
| 89 | 83 | ||
| 90 | - | (2) “MEDICAL DEBT” INCLUDES MEDICAL BIL LS THAT: 29 | |
| 84 | + | (B) A CONSUMER REPORTING A GENCY MAY NOT INCLUD E IN A CONSUMER 23 | |
| 85 | + | REPORT A CONSUMER ’S PAID MEDICAL DEBT OR A MEDICAL DEBT OF LESS THAN 24 | |
| 86 | + | $500 REGARDLESS OF THE DA TE THE MEDICAL DEBT WAS INCURRED . 25 | |
| 91 | 87 | ||
| 92 | - | (I) ARE NOT PAST DUE; OR 30 | |
| 88 | + | (C) A PERSON MAY NOT USE M EDICAL DEBT INFORMAT ION INCLUDED IN A 26 | |
| 89 | + | CONSUMER REPORT TO M AKE A DETERMINATION REGARDING THE 27 | |
| 90 | + | CREDITWORTHINESS OF THE CONSUMER . 28 | |
| 93 | 91 | ||
| 94 | - | (II) HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAI D. 31 | |
| 95 | - | SENATE BILL 614 3 | |
| 92 | + | Article – Health – General 29 | |
| 93 | + | ||
| 94 | + | 19–214.2. 30 SENATE BILL 614 3 | |
| 96 | 95 | ||
| 97 | 96 | ||
| 98 | - | (3) “MEDICAL DEBT ” DOES NOT INCLUDE DEB T CHARGED TO A 1 | |
| 99 | - | CREDIT CARD UNLESS T HE CREDIT CARD IS IS SUED UNDER AN OPEN–ENDED OR A 2 | |
| 100 | - | CLOSE–ENDED OPEN–END OR CLOSED –END CREDIT PLAN OFFERED SPECIFICALLY 3 | |
| 101 | - | SOLELY FOR THE PAYMENT OF HEALTH CA RE SERVICES, PRODUCTS, DEVICES, 4 | |
| 102 | - | DURABLE MEDICAL EQUI PMENT, OR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS . 5 | |
| 103 | 97 | ||
| 104 | - | (B) (1) A CONSUMER REPORTING A GENCY MAY NOT INCLUDE IN A 6 | |
| 105 | - | CONSUMER REPORT A CONSUMER ’S PAID MEDICAL DEBT OR A MEDICAL DEBT OF 7 | |
| 106 | - | LESS THAN $500 REGARDLESS OF THE DATE THE MEDI CAL DEBT WAS INCURRE D: 8 | |
| 98 | + | (f) (1) A HOSPITAL SHALL COMPL Y WITH § 24–2502 OF THIS ARTICLE. 1 | |
| 107 | 99 | ||
| 108 | - | (I) MAKE, CREATE, OR FURNISH ANY CONSU MER REPORT 9 | |
| 109 | - | CONTAINING, INCORPORATING , OR REFLECTING : 10 | |
| 100 | + | (2) For at least 180 days after issuing an initial patient bill, a hospital may 2 | |
| 101 | + | not report adverse information about a patient to a consumer reporting agency or 3 | |
| 102 | + | commence civil action against a patient for nonpayment. 4 | |
| 110 | 103 | ||
| 111 | - | | |
| 112 | - | REPORTING AGENCY | |
| 113 | - | ||
| 104 | + | [(2)] (3) A hospital shall report the fulfillment of a patient’s payment 5 | |
| 105 | + | obligation within 60 days after the obligation is fulfilled to any consumer reporting agency 6 | |
| 106 | + | to which the hospital had reported adverse information about the patient. 7 | |
| 114 | 107 | ||
| 115 | - | 2. ANY COLLECTION ACTION AGAINST A CONSUMER T O 14 | |
| 116 | - | COLLECT MEDICAL DEBT ; OR 15 | |
| 108 | + | [(3)] (4) A hospital may not report adverse information to a consumer 8 | |
| 109 | + | reporting agency regarding a patient who at the time of service was uninsured or eligible 9 | |
| 110 | + | for free or reduced–cost care under § 19–214.1 of this subtitle. 10 | |
| 117 | 111 | ||
| 118 | - | (II) MAINTAIN IN A FILE ON A CONSUMER ANY INFOR MATION 16 | |
| 119 | - | RELATING TO: 17 | |
| 112 | + | [(4)] (5) A hospital may not report adverse information about a patient to 11 | |
| 113 | + | a consumer reporting agency, commence a civil action against a patient for nonpayment, or 12 | |
| 114 | + | delegate collection activity to a debt collector: 13 | |
| 120 | 115 | ||
| 121 | - | 1. MEDICAL DEBT INCURRED BY THE CONSUMER ; OR 18 | |
| 116 | + | (i) If the hospital was notified in accordance with federal law by the 14 | |
| 117 | + | patient or the insurance carrier that an appeal or a review of a health insurance decision 15 | |
| 118 | + | is pending within the immediately preceding 60 days; or 16 | |
| 122 | 119 | ||
| 123 | - | 2. ANY COLLECTION ACTION AGAINST THE CONSUMER 19 | |
| 124 | - | TO COLLECT MEDICAL D EBT. 20 | |
| 120 | + | (ii) If the hospital has completed a requested reconsideration of the 17 | |
| 121 | + | denial of free or reduced–cost care that was appropriately completed by the patient within 18 | |
| 122 | + | the immediately preceding 60 days. 19 | |
| 125 | 123 | ||
| 126 | - | ( | |
| 127 | - | ||
| 128 | - | ||
| 124 | + | [(5)] (6) If a hospital has reported adverse information about a patient to 20 | |
| 125 | + | a consumer reporting agency, the hospital shall instruct the consumer reporting agency to 21 | |
| 126 | + | delete the adverse information about the patient: 22 | |
| 129 | 127 | ||
| 130 | - | ( | |
| 131 | - | ||
| 132 | - | ||
| 128 | + | (i) If the hospital was informed by the patient or the insurance 23 | |
| 129 | + | carrier that an appeal or a review of a health insurance decision is pending, and until 60 24 | |
| 130 | + | days after the appeal is complete; or 25 | |
| 133 | 131 | ||
| 134 | - | Article – Health – General 27 | |
| 132 | + | (ii) Until 60 days after the hospital has completed a requested 26 | |
| 133 | + | reconsideration of the denial of free or reduced–cost care. 27 | |
| 135 | 134 | ||
| 136 | - | ||
| 135 | + | SUBTITLE 25. MEDICAL DEBT REPORTING. 28 | |
| 137 | 136 | ||
| 138 | - | ||
| 137 | + | 24–2501. 29 | |
| 139 | 138 | ||
| 140 | - | ( | |
| 141 | - | ||
| 139 | + | (A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 30 | |
| 140 | + | INDICATED. 31 | |
| 142 | 141 | 4 SENATE BILL 614 | |
| 143 | 142 | ||
| 144 | 143 | ||
| 145 | - | (ii) A report including: 1 | |
| 144 | + | (B) “AMBULANCE SERVICE ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 13–515 OF THE 1 | |
| 145 | + | EDUCATION ARTICLE. 2 | |
| 146 | 146 | ||
| 147 | - | 1. The total number of patients by race or ethnicity, gender, 2 | |
| 148 | - | and zip code of residence against whom the hospital, or a debt collector used by the hospital, 3 | |
| 149 | - | filed an action to collect a debt owed on a hospital bill; 4 | |
| 147 | + | (C) “COLLECTION ENTITY ” MEANS ANY INDIVIDUAL , PARTNERSHIP , 3 | |
| 148 | + | CORPORATION , TRUST, ESTATE, COOPERATIVE , ASSOCIATION, GOVERNMENT OR 4 | |
| 149 | + | GOVERNMENT SUBDIVISI ON, AGENCY, OR OTHER ENTITY THAT PURCHASES 5 | |
| 150 | + | MEDICAL DEBT OR COLL ECTS MEDICAL DEBT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER . 6 | |
| 150 | 151 | ||
| 151 | - | 2. The total number of patients by race or ethnicity, gender, 5 | |
| 152 | - | and zip code of residence with respect to whom the hospital has and has not reported or 6 | |
| 153 | - | classified a bad debt; and 7 | |
| 152 | + | (D) “HEALTH CARE FACILITY ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 19–114 OF 7 | |
| 153 | + | THIS ARTICLE. 8 | |
| 154 | 154 | ||
| 155 | - | 3. The total dollar amount of the charges for hospital services 8 | |
| 156 | - | provided to patients but not collected by the hospital for patients covered by insurance, 9 | |
| 157 | - | including the out–of–pocket costs for patients covered by insurance, and patients without 10 | |
| 158 | - | insurance. 11 | |
| 155 | + | (E) “HEALTH CARE PRACTITIO NER” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 19–114 9 | |
| 156 | + | OF THIS ARTICLE. 10 | |
| 159 | 157 | ||
| 160 | - | (b) The policy submitted under subsection (a)(1) of this section shall: 12 | |
| 158 | + | (F) “MEDICAL DEBT” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 14–1213 OF THE 11 | |
| 159 | + | COMMERCIAL LAW ARTICLE. 12 | |
| 161 | 160 | ||
| 162 | - | (1) Provide for active oversight by the hospital of any contract for collection 13 | |
| 163 | - | of debts on behalf of the hospital; 14 | |
| 161 | + | 24–2502. 13 | |
| 164 | 162 | ||
| 165 | - | (2) Prohibit the hospital from selling any debt; 15 | |
| 163 | + | (A) A HEALTH CARE FACILITY , A HEALTH CARE PRACTI TIONER, OR AN 14 | |
| 164 | + | AMBULANCE SERVICE : 15 | |
| 166 | 165 | ||
| 167 | - | ( | |
| 168 | - | ||
| 166 | + | (1) MAY NOT DISCLOSE ANY PORTION OF A MEDICAL DEBT TO A 16 | |
| 167 | + | CONSUMER REPORTING A GENCY; AND 17 | |
| 169 | 168 | ||
| 170 | - | (4) Describe in detail the consideration by the hospital of patient income, 18 | |
| 171 | - | assets, and other criteria; 19 | |
| 169 | + | (2) SHALL INCLUDE IN ANY CONTRACT ENTERED INT O WITH A 18 | |
| 170 | + | COLLECTION ENTITY FO R THE PURCHASE OR COLL ECTION OF MEDICAL DE BT A 19 | |
| 171 | + | PROVISION PROHIBITIN G THE DISCLOSURE OF ANY PORTION OF THE M EDICAL DEBT 20 | |
| 172 | + | TO A CONSUMER REPORT ING AGENCY. 21 | |
| 172 | 173 | ||
| 173 | - | (5) Prohibit the hospital from [reporting]: 20 | |
| 174 | + | (B) A CONTRACT ENTERED INT O ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2025, THAT 22 | |
| 175 | + | DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PROVISION REQUIRED U NDER SUBSECTION (A)(2) OF THIS 23 | |
| 176 | + | SECTION IS VOID AND UNENFORCEABLE . 24 | |
| 174 | 177 | ||
| 175 | - | | |
| 176 | - | ||
| 178 | + | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 25 | |
| 179 | + | October 1, 2025. 26 | |
| 177 | 180 | ||
| 178 | - | (II) FILING a civil action to collect a debt within 180 days after the 23 | |
| 179 | - | initial bill is provided; 24 | |
| 180 | - | ||
| 181 | - | (6) Describe the hospital’s procedures for collecting a debt; 25 | |
| 182 | - | ||
| 183 | - | (7) Describe the circumstances in which the hospital will seek a judgment 26 | |
| 184 | - | against a patient; 27 | |
| 185 | - | ||
| 186 | - | (8) In accordance with subsection (c) of this section, provide for a refund of 28 | |
| 187 | - | amounts collected from a patient or the guarantor of a patient who was later found to be 29 | |
| 188 | - | eligible for free care within 240 days after the initial bill was provided; 30 | |
| 189 | - | ||
| 190 | - | (9) If the hospital has obtained a judgment against or reported adverse 31 | |
| 191 | - | information to a consumer reporting agency about a patient who later was found to be 32 SENATE BILL 614 5 | |
| 192 | - | ||
| 193 | - | ||
| 194 | - | eligible for free care within 240 days after the initial bill was provided for which the 1 | |
| 195 | - | judgment was awarded or the adverse information was reported, require the hospital to 2 | |
| 196 | - | seek to vacate the judgment or strike the adverse information; 3 | |
| 197 | - | ||
| 198 | - | (10) Provide a mechanism for a patient to: 4 | |
| 199 | - | ||
| 200 | - | (i) Request the hospital to reconsider the denial of free or 5 | |
| 201 | - | reduced–cost care; 6 | |
| 202 | - | ||
| 203 | - | (ii) File with the hospital a complaint against the hospital or a debt 7 | |
| 204 | - | collector used by the hospital regarding the handling of the patient’s bill; and 8 | |
| 205 | - | ||
| 206 | - | (iii) Allow the patient and the hospital to mutually agree to modify 9 | |
| 207 | - | the terms of a payment plan offered under subsection (e) of this section or entered into with 10 | |
| 208 | - | the patient; [and] 11 | |
| 209 | - | ||
| 210 | - | (11) Prohibit the hospital from collecting additional fees in an amount that 12 | |
| 211 | - | exceeds the approved charge for the hospital service as established by the Commission for 13 | |
| 212 | - | which the medical debt is owed on a bill for a patient who is eligible for free or 14 | |
| 213 | - | reduced–cost care under the hospital’s financial assistance policy; AND 15 | |
| 214 | - | ||
| 215 | - | (12) COMPLY WITH § 24–2502 OF THIS ARTICLE . 16 | |
| 216 | - | ||
| 217 | - | (e) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a hospital shall provide in 17 | |
| 218 | - | writing to each patient who incurs medical debt information about the availability of an 18 | |
| 219 | - | installment payment plan for the debt. 19 | |
| 220 | - | ||
| 221 | - | (4) (i) A patient shall be deemed to be compliant with a payment plan 20 | |
| 222 | - | if the patient makes at least 11 scheduled monthly payments within a 12–month period. 21 | |
| 223 | - | ||
| 224 | - | (ii) If a patient misses a scheduled monthly payment, the patient 22 | |
| 225 | - | shall contact the health care facility and identify a plan to make up the missed payment 23 | |
| 226 | - | within 1 year after the date of the missed payment. 24 | |
| 227 | - | ||
| 228 | - | (iii) The health care facility may, but may not be required to, waive 25 | |
| 229 | - | any additional missed payments that occur within a 12–month period and allow the patient 26 | |
| 230 | - | to continue to participate in the income–based payment plan and not refer the outstanding 27 | |
| 231 | - | balance owed to a collection agency or for legal action. 28 | |
| 232 | - | ||
| 233 | - | (f) (1) A HOSPITAL SHALL COMPLY WITH § 24–2502 OF THIS ARTICLE. 29 | |
| 234 | - | ||
| 235 | - | (2) For at least 180 days after issuing an initial patient bill, a hospital may 30 | |
| 236 | - | not report adverse information about a patient to a consumer reporting agency or 31 | |
| 237 | - | commence civil action against a patient for nonpayment. 32 | |
| 238 | - | 6 SENATE BILL 614 | |
| 239 | - | ||
| 240 | - | ||
| 241 | - | [(2)] (3) A hospital shall report the fulfillment of a patient’s payment 1 | |
| 242 | - | obligation within 60 days after the obligation is fulfilled to any consumer reporting agency 2 | |
| 243 | - | to which the hospital had reported adverse information about the patient. 3 | |
| 244 | - | ||
| 245 | - | [(3)] (4) A hospital may not report adverse information to a consumer 4 | |
| 246 | - | reporting agency regarding a patient who at the time of service was uninsured or eligible 5 | |
| 247 | - | for free or reduced–cost care under § 19–214.1 of this subtitle. 6 | |
| 248 | - | ||
| 249 | - | [(4)] (5) A hospital may not report adverse information about a patient to 7 | |
| 250 | - | a consumer reporting agency, commence a civil action against a patient for nonpayment, or 8 | |
| 251 | - | delegate collection activity to a debt collector: 9 | |
| 252 | - | ||
| 253 | - | (i) If the hospital was notified in accordance with federal law by the 10 | |
| 254 | - | patient or the insurance carrier that an appeal or a review of a health insurance decision 11 | |
| 255 | - | is pending within the immediately preceding 60 days; or 12 | |
| 256 | - | ||
| 257 | - | (ii) If the hospital has completed a requested reconsideration of the 13 | |
| 258 | - | denial of free or reduced–cost care that was appropriately completed by the patient within 14 | |
| 259 | - | the immediately preceding 60 days. 15 | |
| 260 | - | ||
| 261 | - | [(5)] (6) If a hospital has BY NOVEMBER 1, 2025, A HOSPITAL THAT 16 | |
| 262 | - | HAD reported adverse information about a patient to a consumer reporting agency, the 17 | |
| 263 | - | hospital shall instruct the consumer reporting agency to delete the adverse information 18 | |
| 264 | - | about the patient: 19 | |
| 265 | - | ||
| 266 | - | (i) If the hospital was informed by the patient or the insurance 20 | |
| 267 | - | carrier that an appeal or a review of a health insurance decision is pending, and until 60 21 | |
| 268 | - | days after the appeal is complete; or 22 | |
| 269 | - | ||
| 270 | - | (ii) Until 60 days after the hospital has completed a requested 23 | |
| 271 | - | reconsideration of the denial of free or reduced–cost care. 24 | |
| 272 | - | ||
| 273 | - | SUBTITLE 25. MEDICAL DEBT REPORTING. 25 | |
| 274 | - | ||
| 275 | - | 24–2501. 26 | |
| 276 | - | ||
| 277 | - | (A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE T HE MEANINGS 27 | |
| 278 | - | INDICATED. 28 | |
| 279 | - | ||
| 280 | - | (B) “AMBULANCE SERVICE ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 13–515 OF THE 29 | |
| 281 | - | EDUCATION ARTICLE. 30 | |
| 282 | - | ||
| 283 | - | (C) (B) “COLLECTION ENTITY ” MEANS ANY INDIVIDUAL , PARTNERSHIP , 31 | |
| 284 | - | CORPORATION , TRUST, ESTATE, COOPERATIVE , ASSOCIATION, GOVERNM ENT OR 32 | |
| 285 | - | GOVERNMENT SUBDIVISI ON, AGENCY, OR OTHER ENTITY THAT PURCHASES 33 | |
| 286 | - | MEDICAL DEBT OR COLL ECTS MEDICAL DEBT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER . 34 SENATE BILL 614 7 | |
| 287 | - | ||
| 288 | - | ||
| 289 | - | ||
| 290 | - | (D) “HEALTH CARE FACILITY ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 19–114 OF 1 | |
| 291 | - | THIS ARTICLE. 2 | |
| 292 | - | ||
| 293 | - | (E) “HEALTH CARE PRACTITIO NER” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 19–114 3 | |
| 294 | - | OF THIS ARTICLE. 4 | |
| 295 | - | ||
| 296 | - | (F) (C) “MEDICAL DEBT” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 14–1213 OF THE 5 | |
| 297 | - | COMMERCIAL LAW ARTICLE. 6 | |
| 298 | - | ||
| 299 | - | 24–2502. 7 | |
| 300 | - | ||
| 301 | - | (A) A HEALTH CARE FACILITY , A HEALTH CARE PRACTI TIONER, OR AN 8 | |
| 302 | - | AMBULANCE SERVICE A PERSON WHOSE PRIMARY BUSINESS IS PROVIDIN G 9 | |
| 303 | - | MEDICAL SERVICES , PRODUCTS, OR DEVICES , OR THE PERSON ’S AGENT OR 10 | |
| 304 | - | ASSIGNEE: 11 | |
| 305 | - | ||
| 306 | - | (1) MAY NOT DISCLOSE ANY PORTION OF A MEDICAL DEBT TO A 12 | |
| 307 | - | CONSUMER REPORTING A GENCY; AND 13 | |
| 308 | - | ||
| 309 | - | (2) SHALL INCLUDE IN ANY CONTRACT ENTERED INT O WITH A 14 | |
| 310 | - | COLLECTION ENTITY FOR THE PURCH ASE OR COLLECTION OF MEDICAL DEBT A 15 | |
| 311 | - | PROVISION PROHIBITIN G THE DISCLOSURE OF ANY PORTION OF THE M EDICAL DEBT 16 | |
| 312 | - | TO A CONSUMER REPORT ING AGENCY. 17 | |
| 313 | - | ||
| 314 | - | (B) A CONTRACT ENTERED INT O ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2025, THAT 18 | |
| 315 | - | DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PROVISION REQUIRED UNDER SUBSEC TION (A)(2) OF THIS 19 | |
| 316 | - | SECTION IS VOID AND UNENFORCEABLE . 20 | |
| 317 | - | ||
| 318 | - | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 21 | |
| 319 | - | October 1, 2025. 22 | |
| 320 | - | ||
| 321 | - | ||
| 322 | - | ||
| 323 | - | ||
| 324 | - | Approved: | |
| 325 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 326 | - | Governor. | |
| 327 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 328 | - | President of the Senate. | |
| 329 | - | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 330 | - | Speaker of the House of Delegates. |