House Bill 778 - Idaho Patient Act Amendments

• Revises timeline requirements for health care providers to submit charges to third-party payors within 45 days and to provide consolidated summaries of services and final notices within 60 and 90 days respectively, with exceptions for specific billing codes and procedures.

• Prohibits extraordinary collection actions (debt sales, credit reporting, liens, wage garnishment) until at least 90 days after patient receives final notice, except for credit reporting which can occur after 45 days with 30 days' advance notice.

• Limits fees and costs in collection actions to $350 for uncontested judgments and $750 for contested judgments (or 100% of outstanding principal, whichever is less), plus interest and court costs.

• Establishes that health care providers bear the burden of proving compliance with all notice and timing requirements before commencing legal action, and requires disclosure of third-party payor name, group number, and membership information.

• Declares severability of provisions, clarifies legislative intent that requirements apply retroactively to January 1, 2021, and establishes emergency effective date with retroactive application for cost limitation provisions.