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H 1350

An Act to address medical debt through hospital financial assistance reform

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Christine Barber and 8 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill standardizes hospital financial assistance for uninsured/underinsured patients to reduce medical debt burden and improve healthcare affordability.

Hearing scheduled for 05/12/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium
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Bill Summary · H 1350

Legislative bill overview

H 1350 reforms hospital financial assistance policies in Massachusetts to address medical debt burdens on patients. The bill appears to strengthen requirements for hospitals to provide financial aid to uninsured and underinsured patients, likely establishing clearer eligibility standards and notification procedures. This represents an effort to reduce the impact of hospital bills on vulnerable populations while maintaining hospital operations.

Why is this important

Medical debt is a leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the United States, and Massachusetts hospitals' current financial assistance practices vary significantly. Standardizing and expanding these assistance programs could protect thousands of residents from devastating financial consequences while improving hospital transparency and accountability. The policy also affects hospital finances and may influence how healthcare costs are distributed across different patient populations.

Potential points of contention

  • Hospital financial viability: Hospitals may argue that expanded assistance requirements reduce revenue needed for operations, equipment, and staff, potentially affecting service quality or pricing for other payers
  • Definition and scope of assistance: Disagreement may arise over income thresholds for eligibility, what services qualify for assistance, and whether hospitals should forgive or discount debt
  • Implementation burden: Hospitals could face significant administrative costs in tracking eligible patients, processing applications, and complying with new reporting or notification requirements

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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