MD HB268

Hospitals must provide free medically necessary care to patients with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, and reduced-cost care with specified percentage discounts (35-75%) based on income up to 500% of the federal poverty level

Hospitals are prohibited from filing civil actions to collect debts of $500 or less, and the waiting period before filing lawsuits or reporting to credit agencies is extended from 180 to 240 days after the initial bill

The definition of "medical debt" is expanded to include co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles, and hospitals cannot charge interest on debts owed by patients eligible for free or reduced-cost care before obtaining a court judgment

Income-based payment plans must cap monthly payments at 5% of household adjusted gross income, and interest cannot begin accruing until 240 days after the initial bill is provided

Hospital-consumer contracts for medical debt are excluded from the 12-year statute of limitations on sealed contracts, instead falling under the standard 3-year limitation period