H 4274 Massachusetts House · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act alleviating the burden of medical debt for patients and families

This bill creates a new Medical Debt Protection Act to shield patients and their families from aggressive debt collection practices. It prohibits medical providers and collectors from using severe measures like arrests, property liens, or wage garnishments until at least 180 days after the first bill is sent. The law also stops creditors from reporting unpaid medical bills to credit agencies or selling debts while an insurance appeal is pending, and it caps interest rates on medical debt at a low percentage.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2024
Committee Review
May 2024
Senate Passage
Apr 2024
Governor
Introduced Jan 25, 2024 Last action May 28, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
2
Committee
3
May 28, 2024
Committee
Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
lower
Apr 11, 2024
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Jan 25, 2024
Committee
Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
lower
Jan 25, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported from the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
lower
0 primary · 10 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.