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

SB 614 prohibits consumer reporting agencies (like credit bureaus) from including paid medical debt or medical debt under $500 in credit reports. It also bans entities from using medical debt information to assess creditworthiness and requires hospitals, clinics, and ambulance services to stop reporting unpaid medical debt for 180 days after billing. Additionally, healthcare providers must include specific contract clauses with debt collectors preventing them from sharing medical debt with credit bureaus, and contracts lacking this clause are void. The law directly affects consumers, healthcare providers, credit bureaus, and debt collection agencies in Maryland.