HB21-1198 Summary

• Requires health-care facilities to screen uninsured patients for public health insurance and discounted care eligibility starting June 1, 2022, using a uniform state-developed application.

• Establishes discounted care requirements for qualified patients (household income ≤250% federal poverty level): limits charges to Medicare/Medicaid rates, requires monthly payment installments capped at 4% of household income for facilities and 2% for individual professionals, and forgives remaining debt after 36 months of payments.

• Prohibits impermissible extraordinary collection actions (foreclosure on primary residences) and delays permissible collection actions (liens, wage garnishment) for 182 days after service; requires 30-day notice before collections with information about discounted care availability.

• Creates private enforcement provisions allowing patients to sue for actual damages plus up to $1,000 per individual action or $500,000 per class action, plus attorney fees and court costs.

• Requires health-care facilities to report compliance data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, age, and primary language; establishes state department authority to enforce compliance through corrective action plans and fines up to $5,000 (or $5,000 per week for continued non-compliance).