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SB 981

EnactedCrossfile HB 268
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Hospitals - Financial Assistance and Collection of Debts - Policies

Sponsor: Stephen S. Hershey, Jr. (District 36)Committee: FinanceSubject: Health Care Facilities and RegulationStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 694 (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Excluding a civil action on a certain contract between a hospital and a consumer from a certain provision of law establishing the statute of limitations on civil actions on certain specialties; 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 18FavorableFWA 4Favorable with amendments
PositionWitnessOrganizationTestimony
FAVDumais, Brige1199SEIU UHEOral + Written (PDF)
FAVKilpatrick, LancelobbyistACS-CANWritten (PDF)
FAVKeys, RachaelCASH CAMPAIGN OF MARYLANDWritten (PDF)
FAVMoore, TonaeyalobbyistCASH Campaign of MarylandWritten (PDF)
FAVSchneiderman, FranzlobbyistConsumer AutoWritten (PDF)
FAVHudson, LeeDelaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAWritten (PDF)
FAVWhite, MarcelinelobbyistEconomic Action MarylandOral + Written (PDF)
FAVRenfrew, MeganHealth Services Cost Review CommissionOral
FAVEdwards, DonnaMaryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIOWritten (PDF)
FAVWilliams, IrniseOAGWritten (PDF)
FAVPuentes, EricalobbyistProgressive MarylandWritten (PDF)
FAVKaplowitz, Richard KAPYearWritten (PDF)
FAVDavis, AnthonyIndividualOral + Written (PDF)
FAVHershey, SenatorIndividualWritten (PDF)
FAVLang, AlanIndividualWritten (PDF)
FAVMuniak, LindseyIndividualWritten (PDF)
FAVSenator Hershey, Senator HersheylegislatorIndividualOral
FAVSenator Hershey, Senator HersheylegislatorIndividualOral
FWAWhitaker, JakelobbyistMaryland Hospital AssociationOral + Written (PDF)
FWAWilliams, IrniseOAGWritten (PDF)
FWAKaplowitz, Richard KAPYearWritten (PDF)
FWA(MD), State of MarylandIndividualWritten (PDF)

Organizations on record

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVKilpatrick, LanceACS-CANRegistered 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
FAVPuentes, EricaProgressive MarylandRegistered for: Progressive Maryland
FWAWhitaker, JakeMaryland Hospital AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hospital Association