Budget Amendment ID: FY2016-S3-141

GOV 141

Protecting Patients from Wrongful Debt Collection

Messrs. Keenan and Eldridge and Ms. Lovely moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following new section:-

SECTION __. Section 14 of Chapter 176O of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking subsection (f) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(f) No health care provider nor any agent or employee thereof, shall provide information relative to unpaid charges for health care services to a consumer reporting agency, as defined by section 50 of chapter 93, while an internal or external review under this section is pending, or for 30 days following the resolution of such a grievance. No health care provider nor any agent or employee thereof, including a debt collector as defined by section 24 of chapter 93, shall initiate debt collection activities relative to unpaid charges for health care services while an internal or external review under this section is pending, or for 30 days following the resolution of such a grievance.