The bills, on the governor’s desk for up to 30 days, would change the statute of limitations on medical debt to three years and limit medical debt credit reporting by certain facilities.
03/12/2024 3:20 P.M.
1.5 minute read
Legislation on medical debt collections and credit reporting is again on Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk this month after the wrap of the commonwealth’s legislative session.
HB 34 would set the statute of limitations on any contract to collect medical debt to within three years of the due date on the first invoice for a health care service, “unless the contract with a hospital or health care provider is for a payment plan that allows for a longer period of time for the collection of debt by the hospital or health care provider.”
Virginia’s House and Senate have previously passed versions of the legislation that were vetoed by the governor and amended for reintroduction.
The Senate passed the bill 26-14 and the House passed it 49-46.
Medical Debt Credit Reporting
Virginia also revisited the medical debt credit reporting issue through legislation this year.
The House voted on the credit reporting bill 58-40 and the Senate passed it 34-5.
HB 1370 would prohibit “certain medical care facilities, certain health care professionals, and emergency medical services agencies from reporting any portion of a medical debt, defined in the bill, to a consumer reporting agency. The bill prohibits collection entities collecting or attempting to collect a medical debt from reporting such collection or attempts to collect to a consumer reporting agency.”
The definition of medical debt was updated to not include health care services paid for with a credit card.
The governor has 30 days from the end of the session, which was March 9, to act on the legislation.
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