Summary:
Emergency physicians must have policies regarding providing discounted services to low-income patients, and when patient debt is advanced for collection. For a patient that provides information that he or she may be a patient with high medical costs , the owner of patient debt (including hospital, emergency physician, or a collection agency), may not report adverse information to a consumer credit reporting agency or commence a civil action until 150 days after the initial billing. A collection agency may only use a wage garnishment as a means of collection if: 1) The collection agency files a noticed motion supported by a declaration identifying the basis for the belief that the patient has the ability to make payments; and 2) the court considers the motion in light of additional information provided by the patient, including information about probable future medical expenses based on the current condition of the patient.