HB 425 - Idaho Patient Act Summary

• Creates the Idaho Patient Act to regulate medical debt collection practices, requiring health care providers to submit charges to third-party payors within 45 days and provide patients with a consolidated summary of services within 60 days before pursuing extraordinary collection actions.

• Prohibits extraordinary collection actions (liens, wage garnishment, credit reporting, debt assignment) until 180 days after the patient receives a final statement and all internal reviews and appeals are resolved.

• Limits attorney's fees and costs in medical debt lawsuits to $350 (plus 100% of principal) for uncontested judgments and $750 (plus 100% of principal) for contested judgments, with additional fees only available upon court approval if grossly disproportionate.

• Allows prevailing patients in contested judgments to recover all costs and attorney's fees from the other party, and establishes penalties of $1,000 minimum (or actual damages, whichever is greater) for violations, with treble damages up to $3,000 for willful or knowing violations.

• Allows non-extraordinary collection methods to continue and permits health care facilities to contract with providers to deliver required notices to patients.