Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating whether Maryland hospitals and their debt collection companies have violated state protections intended to prevent patients from being pursued for medical bills without first receiving information about available financial assistance.
Maryland law places significant restrictions on hospital debt collection. Hospitals generally must determine whether a patient qualifies for free or reduced-cost care before filing a collection lawsuit. Hospitals must also wait at least 240 days after providing the initial bill before issuing certain collection notices. Maryland law further prohibits wage garnishment against patients eligible for free or reduced-cost hospital care and restricts liens against patients’ primary residences.
These protections are intended to prevent patients from facing collection lawsuits, judgments, or garnishments before hospitals have determined whether they qualify for financial assistance.
What Consumers May Have Experienced:
- Being sued for unpaid hospital bills before the hospital completed the required financial assistance eligibility determination;
- Having wages garnished despite qualifying for free or discounted hospital care;
- Receiving collection notices before the applicable 240-day waiting period expired;
- Being pursued for medical debt without receiving adequate information about financial assistance;
- Being held responsible for a spouse’s or another adult family member’s hospital bill without having legally agreed to assume responsibility;
- Facing collection activity despite qualifying for reduced-cost care.
Potential Claims May Include:
- Violations of Maryland Health-General Code;
- Improper lawsuits filed before the required financial assistance eligibility determination;
- Collection notices issued before the applicable 240-day waiting period;
- Unlawful wage garnishment against patients eligible for free or reduced-cost care;
- Prohibited liens against a patient’s primary residence;
- Improper collection of an adult patient’s hospital debt from a spouse or another individual;
- FDCPA violations by third-party debt collectors, where applicable.
Signs You May Be Affected:
- A Maryland hospital sued you over an unpaid medical bill;
- Your wages were garnished for hospital debt despite your financial assistance eligibility;
- You received a collection notice before 240 days had passed since your initial hospital bill;
- You were not screened for financial assistance before a lawsuit was filed;
- A hospital attempted to place a lien against your primary residence;
- You were held responsible for another adult’s hospital debt without agreeing to assume responsibility.
If a Maryland hospital sued you over an unpaid medical bill, garnished your wages, placed or threatened a lien against your primary residence, or pursued you for medical debt despite your potential eligibility for financial assistance, Migliaccio & Rathod LLP would like to hear from you. Please complete the contact form on this page, send us an email at [email protected], or give us a call at (202) 470-3520.