summary
Introduced
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
In Committee
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
The bill adds to the list of impermissible collection actions that a medical creditor is prohibited from using when collecting on a medical debt. Current law requires a medical creditor to comply with certain conditions and notify a patient with medical debt 30 days before taking any permissible extraordinary collection actions. In addition to providing notice before taking any permissible extraordinary collection actions, the bill requires a medical creditor to notify a patient 30 days before collecting, transferring, selling, or assigning a medical debt, and to verify the patient has been screened for public health insurance programs and discounted care. The bill requires a medical creditor to offer a reasonable payment plan to each patient with medical debt. If the medical creditor violates the requirements for selling, transferring, or assigning medical debt, or undertaking collection activities, the patient is entitled to damages in the amount of $3,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater.
AI Summary
This bill expands protections for individuals with medical debt by requiring medical creditors, which are entities claiming entitlement to payments on medical debt, to provide patients with a 30-day notice before selling, transferring, or assigning that debt, or before taking any extraordinary collection actions. It also mandates that before pursuing such actions or transferring debt, medical creditors must verify that the patient has been screened for eligibility for public health insurance programs or discounted care, and must offer a reasonable payment plan. If a medical creditor violates these requirements, the patient is entitled to damages of $3,000 or their actual damages, whichever is greater. The bill also clarifies definitions for terms like "medical debt" and "impermissible extraordinary collection action," which now includes a broader range of prohibited actions such as threatening deportation or seizing retirement accounts.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services (on 02/19/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1267 |
| BillText | https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/112342/download |
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