,,ii #aah? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dbhi ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,may #h1 #bjbd,mr4 ,s&]s 7= himself & ,mr4 ,m]kley7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,heal?1 ,education1 ,labor1 & ,p5sions ,a ,,bill ,to cancel exi/+ m$ical debt1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,m$ical ,debt ,cancellation ,act4 #b4 ,grants to cancel m$ical debt ow$ by pati5ts ,section #bgii;,b-#aj ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act1 z add$ by section #c1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 7e7 ,grants ,to cancel m$ical debt ow$ by pati5ts 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% a grant program "u :i* ! ,secret>y1 beg9n+ n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ! ,m$ical ,debt ,cancellation ,act1 aw>ds grants on a competitive basis to hospitals 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates 9 ord] to elim9ate all eligible m$ical debt ow$ by resid5ts ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to su* hospitals4 7#b7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible to receive a grant "u ?is subsection1 a hospital %all-- 7,a7 submit an application to ! ,secret>y at su* "t1 9 su* mann]1 & conta9+ su* in=mation z ! ,secret>y may require2 & 7,b7 agree to submit to ! ,secret>y su* reports reg>d+ ! use ( grant funds z ! ,secret>y may require4 7#c7 ,prioritization ,9 aw>d+ grants "u ?is subsection1 ! ,secret>y %all-- 7,a7 prioritize aw>ds to hospitals t-- 7i7 are safety net hospitals2 & 7ii7 agree to cancel1 at a m9imum1 all m$ical debt t is-- 7,i7 #ae mon?s old or less2 7,,ii7 ow$ by l[-income & vuln]able pati5t populations2 & 7,,iii7 attributable to em]g5cy & non-elective c>e2 & 7,b7 ensure t aw>ds are di/ribut$ to hospitals across div]se geographical areas ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4 7#d7 ,supplem5t1 n supplant ,grants aw>d$ to a hospital "u ?is subsection %all be us$ to supplem5t1 & n supplant1 o!r s\rces ( fund+ & inve/m5ts made by ! hospital = ! purposes ( provid+ f9ancial assi/ance to pati5ts4 7#e7 ,expansion ( m$ical debt cancellation ,n lat] ?an #b ye>s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ! ,m$ical ,debt ,cancellation ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all exp& ! program "u ?is subsection to all[ provid]s & heal? c>e facilities o!r ?an hospitals1 & individuals1 to receive m$ical debt cancellation4 7#f7 ,guidance ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ! ,m$ical ,debt ,cancellation ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all in/ruct ,f$]al heal? c>e programs to elim9ate m$ical debt collections4 7#g7 ,consultation ,9 c>ry+ out ?is subsection1 ! ,secret>y %all consult ) relevant ,f$]al ag5cies1 dep>tm5ts1 & heal? programs1 pati5t advocates1 community-bas$ organizations ) exp]i5ce 9 m$ical debt cancellation1 provid]s1 & o!r key /akehold]s4 7#h7 ,report+ ,beg9n+ #b ye>s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ! ,m$ical ,debt ,cancellation ,act1 & annually !reaft] until ! date on :i* ! program "u ?is subsection sunsets pursuant to p>agraph 7#aj71 ! ,secret>y %all submit to relevant congressional committees a progress report on ! implem5tation1 adm9i/ration1 & impact ( ! program "u ?is subsection4 7#i7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is subsection-- 7,a7 ! t]m eligible m$ical debt-- 7i7 means ! out-(-pocket unpaid am\nt ow$ by a resid5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates = items or s]vices furni%$ to su* individual by a hospital1 provid$ t-- 7,i7 su* m$ical debt is 9 compliance ) applicable ,f$]al laws & regulations1 includ+-- 7aa7 ! m$ical bill+ requirem5ts ( subsection 7a72 7bb7 ! m$ical debt collection requirem5ts ( subsection 7b72 & 7cc7 ! contract+ limitation "u subsection 7c72 7,,ii7 su* m$ical debt is ) respect to items & s]vices furni%$ to an individual on or be=e ! date ( enactm5t ( ! ,m$ical ,debt ,cancellation ,act2 & 7,,iii7 any dispute resolution process "u section #bgii;,b-#g is complete2 & 7ii7 excludes-- 7,i7 any am\nt paid or payable by any ,f$]al heal? c>e program2 & 7,,ii7 ) respect to items & s]vices furni%$ to an individual by ! hospital1 any am\nt t is 9 excess ( ! sum ( ! am\nt reimbursable by a ,f$]al heal? c>e program or o!r pay] & copaym5t am\nts "u su* a program or o!r heal? insurance plan ) respect to su* items & s]vices4 7,b7 ! t]m ,f$]al heal? c>e program has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9 section #aabh;,b7f7 ( ! ,social ,security ,act4 7#aj7 ,sunset ,! au?orities "u ?is subsection %all sunset on ! date ! ,secret>y c]tifies all eligible m$ical debt 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates has be5 cancel$ "u ?is subsection4 4 #c4 ,requirem5ts = m$ical bill+ practices & m$ical debt collection2 m$ical paym5t assi/ance 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,"p ,e ( title ,,xxvii ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;gg-#aca et seq47 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new section3 #bgii;,b-#aj4 ,requirem5ts = m$ical bill+ & m$ical debt collection2 m$ical paym5t assi/ance res\rce 7a7 ,m$ical bill+ requirem5ts ,9 ! case ( a heal? c>e provid] or facility t furni%es items or s]vices to an individual1 su* provid] or facility %all1 n lat] ?an #de days be=e ! date on :i* paym5t = su* items or s]vices is due-- 7#a7 7,a7 det]m9e :e!r su* individual is eligible = assi/ance ) respect to su* paym5t pursuant to ! *>ity c>e or f9ancial assi/ance policy ( su* provid] or facility2 & 7,b7 if su* individual is eligible = su* assi/ance1 provide in=mation to su* individual reg>d+ su* assi/ance2 & 7#b7 on or aft] ! date on :i* ! m$ical paym5t assi/ance res\rce li/ "u subsection 7d77#a7 is made available1 provide su* individual ) su* li/4 7b7 ,m$ical debt collection requirem5ts 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 ! case ( a heal? c>e provid] or facility t furni%es items or s]vices to an individual1 if paym5t = su* items or s]vices is pa/ due1 su* provid] or facility %all-- 7,a7 n lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date on :i* ! paym5t 0 due1 provide to su* individual a /atem5t 79 cle> & und]/&able language7 t includes-- 7i7 subject to p>agraph 7#b77;,a71 ! total am\nt ( ! paym5t t rema9s due2 7ii7 a description ( ! attempts made by su* provid] or facility to det]m9e :e!r su* individual is eligible = assi/ance 7z describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#a77 ) respect to ! paym5t2 & 7iii7 9 ea* ( ! #ae mo/ commonly language 7o!r ?an ,engli%71 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y1 in=mation ab\t language-assi/ance s]vices relat$ to ! paym5t t are available to individuals ) limit$ ,engli% pr(ici5cy2 & 7,b7 n lat] ?an #cj days aft] a paym5t relat$ to su* items or s]vices is made1 provide to su* individual a detail$ receipt ( su* paym5t & a /atem5t ( ! am\nt t rema9s due1 if applicable4 7#b7 ,limitations on m$ical debt am\nts 7,a7 ,un9sur$ individuals ,9 ! case ( items or s]vices furni%$ to an un9sur$ individual by an organization t is describ$ 9 section #eja7r77#b7 ( ! ,int]nal ,rev5ue ,code ( #aihf & is exempt f taxation "u section #eja7;c77#c7 ( su* ,code1 su* organization may n collect paym5t f su* individual ) respect to su* items or s]vices 9 an am\nt great] ?an ! am\nts g5]ally bill$ 7)9 ! mean+ ( section #eja7r7 ( su* ,code74 7,b7 ,int]e/ rate ,a heal? c>e provid] or facility may n collect int]e/ on pa/-due paym5ts = items or s]vices furni%$ to an individual4 7c7 ,limitation on contract+ = purposes ( m$ical bill+ & m$ical debt collection ,a heal? c>e provid] or facility may n ent] into a contract ) an entity = purposes ( collect+ paym5t ) respect to items or s]vices furni%$ by su* provid] or facility unless su* entity agrees to comply ) ! requirem5ts describ$ 9 subsections 7a7 & 7b7 = su* provid] or facility ) respect to su* paym5t4 7d7 ,m$ical paym5t assi/ance res\rce li/ 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ! ,m$ical ,debt ,cancellation ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all make publicly available on ! website ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices a compreh5sive li/ ( ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & local programs t provide f9ancial assi/ance ) respect to paym5t = items or s]vices furni%$ by a heal? c>e provid] or facility4 7#b7 ,updates ,! ,secret>y %all update ! li/ describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 n less frequ5tly ?an annually4 4 7b7 ,effective date ,! am5dm5ts made by subsection 7a7 %all apply ) respect to items & s]vices furni%$ on or aft] ! date t is #a ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4 7c7 ,coord9ation & consultation ,9 c>ry+ out ?is section1 ! ,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices %all-- 7#a7 coord9ate ) relevant ,f$]al dep>tm5ts & ag5cies1 includ+ ! ,consum] ,f9ancial ,protection ,bureau & ! ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,treasury2 & 7#b7 consult ) relevant /akehold]s includ+ pati5t advocates1 community-bas$ organizations ) exp]i5ce 9 m$ical debt cancellation1 & heal? c>e provid]s4 #d4 ,m$ical debt collection 7a7 ,collection ( m$ical debt 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,fair ,debt ,collection ,practices ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #afib et seq47 is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] section #hah 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #afibp7 ! foll[+3 #hah;,a4 ,collection ( m$ical debt 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,no debt collector or cr$itor may collect or attempt to collect debt t arose f ! receipt ( m$ical s]vices1 products1 or devices if su* debt 0 incurr$ by a consum] be=e ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is section4 7b7 ,private "r ( action ,any consum] :o is h>m$ by a violation ( subsection 7a7 may br+ a civil action 9 ! appropriate ,unit$ ,/ates di/rict c\rt aga9/ ! debt collector or cr$itor t violat$ subsection 7a7 =-- 7#a7 comp5satory damages1 includ+ = economic losses & = emotional h>m2 7#b7 punitive damages2 & 7#c7 reasonable attorney's fees & co/s ( ! action to a prevail+ pla9tiff4 4 7b7 ,te*nical & con=m+ am5dm5t ,! table ( sections = ! ,fair ,debt ,collection ,practices ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #afib et seq47 is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to section #hah ! foll[+3 #hah;,a4 ,collection ( m$ical debt4 4 #e4 ,m$ical debt report+ 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,section #fje7;a7 ( ! ,fair ,cr$it ,report+ ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #afha;c7a77 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 7#i7 ,any in=mation relat$ to debt t arose f ! receipt ( m$ical s]vices1 products1 or devices accru$ by a consum]4 4 7b7 ,notice requirem5ts ,ea* cr$it report+ ag5cy t removes in=mation f ! consum] report ( a consum] to comply ) section #fje7;a77#i7 ( ! ,fair ,cr$it ,report+ ,act1 z add$ by subsection 7a7 ( ?is section1 %all notify ! consum] ( ! removal4 7c7 ,effective date ,! am5dm5t made by ?is section %all take effect on ! date t is #cj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is section4