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MA H1350
Bill
Status
2/27/2025
Primary Sponsor
Christine Barber
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AI Summary
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Requires hospitals to provide free care to patients with household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or those experiencing medical hardship (out-of-pocket costs exceeding 10% of income for those up to 600% FPL)
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Establishes sliding scale discounts: 75% discount for income 201-300% FPL, 50% discount for 301-350% FPL, and 25% discount for 351-400% FPL
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Prohibits hospitals from considering immigration status, total cost of services, or restrictive contract language when determining financial assistance eligibility
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Mandates hospitals post financial assistance notices in multiple languages, notify patients during intake and discharge, and include prominent statements on billing communications
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Requires annual hospital reporting to the Center for Health Information and Analysis on financial assistance applications, approvals, denials, charity care, bad debt, and debt sold to collectors, with the Health Policy Commission publishing annual public reports
Legislative Description
To address medical debt through hospital financial assistance reform
Last Action
Hearing scheduled for 05/12/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium
5/2/2025