Courts and Judicial Proceedings - Evidence - Rebuttable Presumption of Medical Bills

SB 269 establishes a rebuttable presumption in Maryland courts that medical bills provided during discovery in personal injury or wrongful death cases are authentic, fair, and reasonable. This means courts will initially accept such bills as valid evidence without requiring expert testimony to verify their accuracy. Defendants can challenge this presumption by proving, with a preponderance of evidence, that specific charges are inaccurate, unfair, or unreasonable. The bill directly affects plaintiffs seeking compensation and defendants defending against medical billing disputes in civil litigation.