SB 1212 - Under this act, a hospital that is not in material compliance with federal hospital price transparency laws on the date that items or services are purchased from, or provided to a patient by, the hospital shall not initiate or pursue a collection action against the patient for a debt owed for the items or services. The patient may file suit against the hospital for a prohibited collection and the hospital, if found to be materially out of compliance with federal price transparency laws, shall refund any amount of debt the payor has paid, pay a penalty to the patient in an amount equal to the debt, dismiss or cause to be dismissed any court action with prejudice and pay the patient's attorney fees and costs, and remove or cause to be removed any report made to a consumer reporting agency relating to the debt. This act is identical to HB 1161 (2023) and substantially similar to HCS/HB 1837 (2024).
SARAH HASKINS