Committee hears bill to standardize hospital financial-assistance policies to curb medical debt

BOSTON — The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing heard testimony supporting H.1350/S.842, a bill to standardize hospital financial-assistance policies across the Commonwealth, after the Attorney General's office and consumer advocates told lawmakers inconsistent hospital practices leave insured and uninsured patients facing surprise bills and collections.

Supporters said the measure would set a minimum eligibility floor and uniform application and notice requirements so patients can learn before care whether they are likely to qualify for charity discounts.

Attorney General Chloe Cable, assistant attorney general in the health care division, told the committee her office’s 2024 cost-trends work found that, despite near-universal coverage in Massachusetts, residents continue to incur burdensome medical bills. "Federal law requires nonprofit hospitals to have written financial-assistance policies, but the law lets hospitals set their own eligibility and discount standards," Cable said. She said the…