An Idaho legislative panel has advanced a measure creating transparency in medical bills sent to patients, and reining in predatory medical debt collectors.
The Senate State Affairs Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to send to the full chamber the measure backers call consumer protection legislation, but opponents say would increase healthcare costs for patients who pay their bills.
The proposal caps attorney fees charged to patients at $350 for those who do not contest their bills in court and $750 for those who do. It would also set a 45-day deadline for medical facilities to get bills to a patient’s insurance.
Several medical debt collection attorneys spoke against the measure, saying medical providers would lose money and pass that cost on to their patients, though they acknowledge the industry contained some bad actors. (AP)
