Prohibits state-operated hospitals from suing patients for medical debt

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and 23 co-sponsors

State-operated hospitals would be barred from filing or pursuing civil lawsuits to collect medical debt from patients.

REFERRED TO HEALTH

Overview

Bill A 1356 would prohibit state-operated hospitals from initiating or continuing civil lawsuits against patients to collect medical debt. Introduced January 9, 2025, the measure is currently referred to the Assembly Health Committee. The bill has a broad slate of cosponsors and lists Amy Paulin as the primary sponsor.

Purpose and intent

To protect patients from civil litigation by state-operated hospitals over unpaid medical bills.

Aims to reduce the potential financial and legal stress on patients seeking care at publicly operated hospitals.

Signals a policy shift toward non-litigation debt collection practices for state facilities, with potential emphasis on alternative collection or charity care approaches (to be specified in the bill’s text).

Key provisions (as described by the bill’s title and status)

Prohibition on suing patients: The core provision would bar state-operated hospitals from filing or pursuing civil actions to collect medical debt from patients.

Scope: The term “state-operated hospitals” indicates hospitals run by state or public authorities; the exact boundaries (which facilities are covered) would be detailed in the bill text.

Enforcement and exceptions: Specific enforcement mechanisms, penalties for violations, and any exceptions (if any) would be set out in the text of the bill; these are not provided in the available summary.

Who would be affected

Affected entities: State-operated or publicly run hospitals that provide medical care and bill patients for services.

Affected individuals: Patients with unpaid medical bills at those facilities who would be shielded from civil debt collection lawsuits by the hospitals.

Possible indirect effects on hospital finances and debt collection practices, depending on how the bill interacts with existing revenue cycles and charity care policies.

Procedural and timeline notes

Introduced: January 9, 2025.

Status: Referred to the Health Committee (assembly level).

Actions listed: The version notes show two identical “REFFERED TO HEALTH” entries on the same date, indicating committee referral without additional actions yet.

Related legislation:

A 8170 (prior-session) – indicates a similar or related measure in a previous session.
S 359 – Senate companion bill (noted as companion in the record).

Additional context and considerations

There are multiple cosponsors, suggesting broad legislative interest across different districts.

The Senate companion and prior-session bill may influence prospects and timing if similar language advances.

As with any bill at this early stage, the exact definitions, limitations, and implementation details will be critical to understand once the full text is released and assigned to a committee hearing.

If you’d like, I can monitor for updates on subsequent committee actions or summarize the full bill language once it becomes available.

Bill