An Act To Require Hospitals And Hospital-Affiliated Providers To Provide Financial Assistance Programs For Medical Care

LD 1937 requires hospitals and certain hospital-affiliated outpatient providers (like those offering imaging, lab services, cardiac diagnostics, or expensive equipment-based care) to establish and maintain financial assistance programs for eligible patients. These programs must provide charity care consistent with existing rules, based on family income thresholds defined in the bill. Providers who deny access without justification face civil fines up to $10,000 per violation, enforced by the Attorney General or affected patients through court action. The bill repeals an older section (1716) and creates a new section (1716-A) to define charity care requirements and eligibility. It directly affects Maine hospitals and specific outpatient service providers meeting the bill's criteria.