FL H0959

Licensed facilities must provide written good faith cost estimates before nonemergency medical services, and cannot charge patients more than 110% of the estimate unless unforeseen circumstances arise requiring written explanation

Patients with medical debt from licensed facilities receive additional property exemptions from legal process: up to $10,000 in a single motor vehicle and up to $10,000 in personal property (if not claiming homestead exemption)

Facilities must establish internal grievance processes allowing patients to dispute charges, with responses required within 7 business days; grievance instructions must appear in bold on all bills and on facility websites

Facilities are prohibited from taking "extraordinary collection actions" (selling debt, credit reporting, liens, garnishment, civil action, arrest) until after determining financial assistance eligibility, providing itemized bills, completing any grievance process, billing insurers, and waiting 30 days after written collection notice

Failure to provide cost estimates within required timeframes results in daily fines of $1,000 up to a maximum of $10,000