An Act to address medical debt through hospital financial assistance reform
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill aims to improve hospital financial assistance programs in Massachusetts to help patients who struggle to pay medical bills. It seeks to standardize and increase transparency in how hospitals offer assistance, ensuring patients have clear access to information and support. The bill intends to reduce the burden of medical debt for individuals and families. It also seeks to align with similar efforts to improve medical debt reporting and collection practices.
Key provisions
- Requires hospitals to establish clear and accessible financial assistance programs.
- Mandates hospitals to provide patients with information about available assistance options.
- Promotes standardized reporting of hospital financial assistance programs.
- Aims to increase transparency in hospital billing practices.
- Supports efforts to reduce the negative impact of medical debt on patients' credit reports.
Who is affected
- Patients in Massachusetts
- Hospitals in Massachusetts
- Individuals with medical debt
- Families impacted by medical debt
Notable changes
- The bill seeks to standardize the process for patients to access hospital financial assistance.
- It encourages hospitals to proactively inform patients about available aid.
- It aligns with other legislation focused on improving medical debt reporting and collection practices.
Bill text
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Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
10 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
James B. Eldridge
James K. Hawkins
Joanne M. Comerford
Arguments
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