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Bill > SB0317


IN SB0317

IN SB0317
Health care debt and costs.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2025
In Committee
02/13/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
04/24/2025

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Health care debt and costs. Requires hospitals to do the following: (1) Offer the person who has received health services the opportunity to pay the charges through a payment plan that satisfies certain requirements. (2) Develop a written notice about a charity care program operated by the hospital, provide the notice to patients, and post the notice. (3) Include certain information concerning financial assistance on a billing statement. (4) Requires a hospital that reports an annual gross patient revenue of at least $20,000,000 to provide written notice and information to a person who has requested an eligibility determination concerning a payment plan or charity care. Provides that the unpaid earnings of a consumer who meets specified income eligibility requirements may not be attached by garnishment in satisfaction of: (1) any amount of health care debt owed or alleged to be owed by the consumer; or (2) any amount of the judgment that represents health care debt determined to be owed by the consumer. Provides that: (1) any amount of health care debt owed or alleged to be owed by a consumer; or (2) in an action against a consumer in which a judgment has been entered, any amount of the judgment that represents health care debt determined to be owed by the consumer; does not constitute a lien against the consumer's principal residence for a consumer that meets specified income requirements. Provides that in any action filed in Indiana for the recovery of health care debt owed or alleged to be owed by a consumer, the principal residence of the consumer is not liable to judgment or attachment or to be sold on execution against the consumer.

AI Summary

This bill addresses health care debt and costs by implementing several key provisions to protect consumers and improve hospital billing practices. Specifically, the bill requires hospitals to offer patients the opportunity to pay their medical bills through flexible payment plans that allow payments over at least 24 months, with monthly payments not exceeding 10% of a person's gross monthly income. Hospitals must also develop and prominently display written notices about their charity care programs, including information about how patients can apply for financial assistance. For hospitals with annual gross patient revenue of at least $20 million, the bill mandates that they provide written notice within 14 days to patients requesting eligibility determination for payment plans or charity care programs. Additionally, the bill prohibits garnishment of unpaid earnings and prevents health care debt from becoming a lien against a consumer's principal residence for individuals whose household income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. These provisions aim to make health care more affordable and accessible by providing patients with more manageable payment options and protecting them from aggressive debt collection practices.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (8)

Last Action

Third reading: defeated; Roll Call 183: yeas 23, nays 26 (on 02/20/2025)

bill text


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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/senate/317/details
Fiscal Note #2: Senate Comm Sub https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/124/2025/senate/bills/SB0317/fiscal-notes/SB0317.02.COMS.FN002.pdf
Senate Amendment #1 https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/124/2025/senate/bills/SB0317/amendments/SB0317.02.COMS.AMS001.pdf
BillText https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/124/2025/senate/bills/SB0317/SB0317.02.COMS.pdf
Fiscal Note #1: Senate Comm Sub https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/124/2025/senate/bills/SB0317/fiscal-notes/SB0317.02.COMS.FN001.pdf
Senate Health and Provider Services Amendment #2 https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/124/2025/senate/bills/SB0317/committee-amendments/amendments/SB0317.01.INTR.AMS02.pdf
Senate Committee Report https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/124/2025/senate/bills/SB0317/committee-reports/SB0317.01.INTR.CRS001.pdf
Vote Sheet February 12, 2025 https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/124/2025/senate/bills/SB0317/votesheets/SB0317.01.INTR.02.pdf
Senate Health and Provider Services Amendment #2 https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/124/2025/senate/bills/SB0317/committee-amendments/drafts/AM031702.pdf
Senate Health and Provider Services Amendment #1 https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/124/2025/senate/bills/SB0317/committee-amendments/drafts/AM031701.pdf
BillText https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/124/2025/senate/bills/SB0317/SB0317.01.INTR.pdf
Fiscal Note #1: Introduced https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/124/2025/senate/bills/SB0317/fiscal-notes/SB0317.01.INTR.FN001.pdf
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