HB 79
An Act 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.
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This act, the Medical Debt Relief Act, establishes a program to provide financial assistance to patients at Pennsylvania hospitals. It requires hospitals to create standardized financial assistance forms and provide information about programs to patients. The Department of Health will oversee the program, ensuring accessibility and transparency. The act also aims to discharge eligible residents’ medical debt, potentially reducing financial burdens.
Key provisions
- Establishes the Medical Debt Relief Program to discharge eligible residents’ medical debt.
- Requires hospitals to develop and provide standardized financial assistance forms and information to patients.
- Mandates the Department of Health to oversee the program and ensure accessibility.
- Defines ‘eligible patient’ based on residency, inability to pay, and financial documentation.
- Establishes income eligibility guidelines for financial assistance, based on 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- Requires hospitals to provide assistance understanding financial assistance applications.
- Specifies that hospitals can utilize electronic verification data for SNAP, WIC, and LIHEAP to determine eligibility for financial assistance.
- States that medical debt discharged under the program will not be considered taxable income.
Who is affected
- Hospital patients
- Pennsylvania residents
- Individuals with medical debt
- Healthcare providers
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