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Bill > HB79

PA HB79

PA HB79
Establishing requirements for hospital-based financial assistance; providing for hospital-based financial assistance forms, for information about hospital-based financial assistance programs and for reporting of hospital-based financial assistance policies; and imposing duties on the Department of Health.

summary

Introduced
01/10/2025
In Committee
05/22/2025
Crossed Over
05/13/2025
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Establishing the Medical Debt Relief Program; establishing <-- requirements for hospital-based financial assistance; and imposing duties on the Department of Health. ESTABLISHING REQUIREMENTS FOR HOSPITAL-BASED FINANCIAL <-- ASSISTANCE; PROVIDING FOR HOSPITAL-BASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FORMS, FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HOSPITAL-BASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND FOR REPORTING OF HOSPITAL-BASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICIES; AND IMPOSING DUTIES ON THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

AI Summary

This bill establishes the Medical Debt Relief Program within Pennsylvania's Department of Health to help reduce medical debt for eligible residents. The program will contract with a medical debt relief coordinator to purchase and discharge medical debt from healthcare providers and collection agencies for individuals who meet specific income and residency criteria, such as having a household income at or below 400% of the Federal poverty guidelines or medical debt equal to 5% or more of household income. The bill requires hospitals to develop uniform financial assistance forms in plain language and multiple languages, which must be made publicly accessible online and provided to patients during intake and discharge. Hospitals must also help patients apply for financial assistance and align their eligibility criteria with public health coverage options. The medical debt relief coordinator must ensure equitable debt relief across different geographical areas and demographic groups, and the Department of Health must submit an annual report to state legislative leaders detailing the program's impact, including the amount of debt discharged and characteristics of recipients. Importantly, the medical debt discharged through this program will not be considered taxable income, and the program aims to provide a pathway for low-income residents to manage overwhelming medical expenses.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

Sponsors (54)

Arvind Venkat (D)*,  Aerion Abney (D),  Lisa Borowski (D),  Heather Boyd (D),  Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz (D),  Missy Cerrato (D),  Joe Ciresi (D),  Gina Curry (D),  Mary Jo Daley (D),  Nathan Davidson (D),  Tina Davis (D),  Dan Deasy (D),  Kyle Donahue (D),  Elizabeth Fiedler (D),  Justin Fleming (D),  Dan Frankel (D),  Bob Freeman (D),  Paul Friel (D),  José Giral (D),  Roni Green (D),  Nancy Guenst (D),  Jim Haddock (D),  Liz Hanbidge (D),  Keith Harris (D),  Carol Hill-Evans (D),  Kristine Howard (D),  John Inglis (D),  Malcolm Kenyatta (D),  Tarik Khan (D),  Bridget Kosierowski (D),  Andrew Kuzma (R),  Dave Madsen (D),  Steve Malagari (D),  Jeanne McNeill (D),  Dan Miller (D),  Jenn O'Mara (D),  Danielle Otten (D),  Eddie Pashinski (D),  Chris Pielli (D),  Lindsay Powell (D),  Tarah Probst (D),  Chris Rabb (D),  Jim Rigby (R),  Abigail Salisbury (D),  Ben Sanchez (D),  Jeremy Shaffer (R),  Melissa Shusterman (D),  Josh Siegel (D),  Mandy Steele (D),  Paul Takac (D),  Tim Twardzik (R),  Ben Waxman (D),  Joseph Webster (D),  Dan Williams (D), 

Last Action

Referred to Health & Human Services (on 05/22/2025)

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