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STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR
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S.P. 908 - L.D. 2115
An Act to Prohibit Unfair Practices Related to the Collection of Medical Debt
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §11002, sub-§7-A is enacted to read:
7-A. Medical debt.
including dental services, or health care goods, including products, devices, durable
medical equipment and prescription drugs. "Medical debt" does not include debt arising
from services provided by a veterinarian; debt charged to a credit card unless the credit
card is issued under an open-end or closed-end credit plan offered solely for the payment
of health care services; debt charged to a home equity or general purpose line of credit; or
secured debt.
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §11013, sub-§2, ¶O, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 702, §2, is
amended to read:
O. The false representation or implication that documents are not legal process forms
or do not require action by the consumer; or
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §11013, sub-§2, ¶P, as amended by PL 2013, c. 588, Pt. C, §17,
is further amended to read:
P. The false representation or implication that a debt collector operates or is employed
by a consumer reporting agency, as defined by Title 10, section 1308, subsection 3.;
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §11013, sub-§2, ¶Q
Q. The false, deceptive or misleading representation or implication that interest will
accumulate on the debt principal when the debt collector or collection agency is
attempting to collect debt that the debt collector or collection agency knows is medical
debt or to obtain information about a consumer in relation to an attempt to collect
medical debt;
Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §11013, sub-§2, ¶R is enacted to read:
R. The false, deceptive or misleading representation or implication that a fee will be
charged in connection with the debt when the debt collector or collection agency is
attempting to collect debt that the debt collector or collection agency knows is medical
APPROVED
APRIL 22, 2024
BY GOVERNOR
CHAPTER
663
PUBLIC LAW Page 2 - 131LR2795(04)
debt or to obtain information about a consumer in relation to an attempt to collect
medical debt; or
Sec. 6. 32 MRSA §11013, sub-§2, ¶S is enacted to read:
S. The false, deceptive or misleading representation or implication that the debt
collector or collection agency will pursue litigation to compel payment of the debt
when attempting to collect debt that the debt collector or collection agency knows is
medical debt or to obtain information about a consumer in relation to an attempt to
collect medical debt.
Sec. 7. 32 MRSA §11013, sub-§3, ¶M, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 702, §2, is
amended to read:
M. Engaging in the business of lending money to any person or contacting any person
for the purpose of securing a loan for any person with which to pay any claim left with
it for collection, or recommending any person or persons as a source of funds to pay
any such claim; or
Sec. 8. 32 MRSA §11013, sub-§3, ¶N, as repealed and replaced by PL 2009, c.
245, §8, is amended to read:
N. Threatening to bring legal action in the debt collector's own name or instituting a
suit on behalf of others or furnishing legal advice, except that a debt collector who is
also an attorney may bring an action under this paragraph in the name of the creditor
in any division or county permitted by 15 United States Code, Section 1692i and may
furnish legal advice to the creditor with respect to a debt.;
Sec. 9. 32 MRSA §11013, sub-§3, ¶O
O. Notwithstanding paragraph A, charging any interest on debt that the debt collector
knows is medical debt;
Sec. 10. 32 MRSA §11013, sub-§3, ¶P is enacted to read:
P. Notwithstanding paragraph A, charging any fee in connection with the collection of
debt that the debt collector knows is medical debt; or
Sec. 11. 32 MRSA §11013, sub-§3, ¶Q
Q. Pursuing litigation to compel payment of medical debt without providing proof that
the consumer was sent a written notice indicating that litigation may not be pursued
when the debt collector or collection agency knows the consumer's household income
is not more than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines, as defined by the federal
Office of Management and Budget and revised annually, and the debt collector or
collection agency provided the consumer with at least 30 days to provide evidence that
the consumer's household income is not more than 300% of the federal poverty
guidelines.