Bill > H1222

This bill aims to establish a uniform and transparent electronic reporting system for medical debt data in Massachusetts. The key provisions include: 1. Defining "medical debt" and "significant medical debt" (over $200) in the state's laws. 2. Requiring the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) to coordinate with various state agencies to develop a uniform medical debt reporting system. This system would collect and analyze comprehensive demographic data related to medical debt, with the goal of reducing its adverse effects and protecting patients. 3. Allowing the system to be centralized or created as a central public portal, and granting access to other state agencies. 4. Requiring providers to report medical debt information to the secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services before sending it to collection agencies. 5. Funding the reporting system through the Healthcare Payment Reform Fund overseen by the Health Policy Commission. 6. Exempting certain types of medical debt (such as paid or settled debts) from consumer credit reporting requirements. The overall aim is to ensure uniform and transparent reporting of medical debt data in Massachusetts to better understand and address the issue.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1222