Consumer Protection - Credit Reporting - Medical Debt (Fair Medical Debt Reporting Act)

HB 1020 (Fair Medical Debt Reporting Act) prohibits credit reporting agencies from including medical debt in consumer credit reports and bans lenders from using such debt to assess creditworthiness. It requires hospitals to stop reporting medical debt to credit agencies for 180 days after billing, and to delete reports if a patient is appealing insurance coverage or seeking free/reduced-cost care. The bill also mandates that hospitals include specific contract terms with debt collectors regarding medical debt, making contracts without these terms void. These changes directly affect consumers with medical bills, hospitals, credit agencies, and debt collection entities across Maryland.