Raised Bill No. 340 Summary

• Hospitals may collect from uninsured patients only the cost of providing services, calculated as published charges multiplied by the hospital's cost-to-charges ratio from its most recent financial filing.

• Hospitals may collect from underinsured patients (those with high-deductible health plans earning at or below 600% of poverty guidelines) the cost of providing services plus interest at an annual rate not to exceed the lesser of: the one-year Treasury yield, a rate set by the Office of Health Strategy, or 5%.

• Hospitals and collection agents are prohibited from reporting patients to credit rating agencies for one year, foreclosing on primary residences, or garnishing wages for healthcare debt incurred on or after October 1, 2020, if the patient is eligible for hospital bed funds.

• Collection agents must provide written notice to patients identifying whether they are classified as insured, underinsured, or uninsured and explaining the hospital's determination.

• Hospitals and collection agents must immediately discontinue collection efforts and refer files back to the hospital if they become aware a patient has requested an adverse determination review, has not received a final determination, or is eligible for financial assistance programs.