Bill > S857

This bill establishes a comprehensive and uniform medical debt reporting system to increase transparency and understanding of medical debt across various demographic groups. The bill defines "medical debt" as any debt owed for medical services, with "significant medical debt" defined as debt exceeding $200. It requires the state's health information center to develop an interoperable electronic reporting system that will collect and analyze detailed demographic data about medical debt, including factors such as race, gender, disability status, income level, education, and age. The system aims to reduce the adverse effects of medical debt by tracking trends in debt assignment and collection, analyzing debt settlement rates, and providing insights into the impact of medical debt on public health and welfare. The bill also modifies existing laws to allow for more comprehensive reporting of medical debt information, restricts the reporting of certain types of medical debt (such as recently paid or newly acquired debt), and establishes a mechanism for reimbursing the health information center for implementing this reporting system. Ultimately, the legislation seeks to protect patients by creating a more transparent and comprehensive understanding of medical debt in the state.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S857