HB 268

Hospitals - Financial Assistance and Collection of Debts - Policies

Sponsor: Lorig Charkoudian (District 20)Committee: Health and Government OperationsSubject: Health Care Facilities and RegulationStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 693 (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Altering provisions of law related to a hospital's financial assistance and collection of debts policies; specifying the percentage by which a hospital is required to reduce a patient's out-of-pocket expenses under certain circumstances; adding to the notice requirements relating to a hospital's financial assistance policy; prohibiting a hospital from filing a civil action to collect a debt against a patient whose outstanding debt is at or below $500; etc.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 27FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Dumais, Brige	1199SEIU UHE	Oral
FAV	Kilpatrick, Lancelobbyist	American Cancer Society	Written (PDF)
FAV	Amador, Ninfa	CASA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Moore, Tonaeyalobbyist	CASH Campaign of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schneiderman, Franzlobbyist	Consumer Auto	Written (PDF)
FAV	White, Marcelinelobbyist	Economic Action Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Renfrew, Megan	Health Services Cost Review Commission	Oral
FAV	Schumitz, Kalilobbyist	Maryland Center on Economic Policy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kelter, Chris	Maryland Centers for Independent Living	Written (PDF)
FAV	Steinwedel, William	Maryland Legal Aid Bureau	Oral
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rubenstein, Cynthia	Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club	Position only
FAV	Coleman, Ryan	President, Randallstown NAACP	Written (PDF)
FAV	Puentes, Ericalobbyist	Progressive Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Woolard, Ashley	Public Justice Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Turnbull, Emanwel	The Holland Law Firm, P.C.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Charkoudian, Lorig	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Coooper, Lynetta	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Davis, Anthony	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Charkoudian, Delegate Charkoudianlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Latino Caucus, Maryland Legislative	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FAV	Reid, William	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Spillane, John	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Walsh, Michaellobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Hong, Stella	Maryland State Dental Association Foundation	Written (PDF)
FWA	Williams, Irnise	OAG	Written (PDF)
INFO	Whitaker, Jakelobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

1199SEIU UHEFAV 1

American Cancer SocietyFAV 1

CASAFAV 1

CASH Campaign of MarylandFAV 1

Consumer AutoFAV 1

Economic Action MarylandFAV 1

Health Services Cost Review CommissionFAV 1

Maryland Center on Economic PolicyFAV 1

Maryland Centers for Independent LivingFAV 1

Maryland Hospital AssociationINFO 1

Maryland Legal Aid BureauFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland State Dental Association FoundationFWA 1

Montgomery County Women's Democratic ClubFAV 1

OAGFWA 1

President, Randallstown NAACPFAV 1

Progressive MarylandFAV 1

Public Justice CenterFAV 1

The Holland Law Firm, P.C.FAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVKilpatrick, LanceAmerican Cancer SocietyRegistered for: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

FAVMoore, TonaeyaCASH Campaign of MarylandRegistered for: CASH Campaign of Maryland

FAVSchneiderman, FranzConsumer AutoRegistered for: Auto Consumer Alliance; Consumer Auto

FAVWhite, MarcelineEconomic Action MarylandRegistered for: Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland; Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition

FAVSchumitz, KaliMaryland Center on Economic PolicyRegistered for: Maryland Center on Economic Policy

FAVPuentes, EricaProgressive MarylandRegistered for: Progressive Maryland

FAVWalsh, MichaelRegistered for: Ameresco; Allegis, Redwood, Maxim Public Affairs, LLC; AthLife Foundation, The; Backpack; Capitol Strategies LLC; Children's Guild, The…

INFOWhitaker, JakeMaryland Hospital AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hospital Association