IL SB2027

Health care providers must review a patient's file before pursuing collection action against an insured patient to determine if the patient has a Medicare supplement policy or other secondary payer health insurance plan.

If no supplemental policy is found in the patient's records, the provider must notify the patient and give them an opportunity to verify coverage, assess bill accuracy, and address payment.

Health care providers may only proceed with collection action against insured patients after exhausting the review and notification process and confirming no supplemental policy exists and no payment has been received.

Collection agencies, law firms, or individuals cannot initiate legal action on hospital bills without written approval from an authorized hospital employee who reasonably believes collection action conditions have been met.

"Supplemental policy" is defined as a Medicare supplement policy or any other secondary payer health insurance plan.