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SENATE 355117th CongressRead twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

COVID–19 Medical Debt Collection Relief Act of 2021

Last Action
2/22/2021

Actions

  • 2021-02-22Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • 2021-02-22Introduced in Senate

CRS Summary

As of 2021-02-22 (00)

COVID-19 Medical Debt Collection Relief Act of 2021

This bill temporarily limits certain activities to collect medical debts by health care providers that apply for, or accept, COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus 2019) financial relief.

Specifically, such health care providers must suspend extraordinary collection actions, such as selling a debt to a third-party collector or placing a lien on an individual's property, until the later of the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency or 18 months after the enactment of this bill.

Further, such health care providers must notify individuals who have entered into medical debt repayment plans that they may request the suspension of payments during such period. Providers must provide reasonable repayment options for individuals once repayments resume, such as extending repayment periods.

The bill also applies specified consumer protections to medical debt incurred for COVID-19-related testing and treatment between February 1, 2020, and 60 days after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.

Cosponsors (4)

  • Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
  • Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
  • Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
  • Christopher Murphy (D-CT)

Subjects

  • Administrative remedies
  • Cardiovascular and respiratory health
  • Civil actions and liability
  • Debt collection
  • Emergency medical services and trauma care
  • Foreign language and bilingual programs
  • Government information and archives
  • Health care costs and insurance
  • Infectious and parasitic diseases
  • Interest, dividends, interest rates
  • Medicaid
  • Medical tests and diagnostic methods
  • Medicare
Read on Congress.gov

Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.