# Delaware SS 1 for SB 13: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 6 AND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HOSPITAL CHARITY CARE AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. Delaware SS 1 for SB 13, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 6 AND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HOSPITAL CHARITY CARE AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE., is a 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) Senate bill sponsored by Marie Pinkney (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-07-20 (Signed by Governor); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SS1FORSB13-153 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Delaware SS 1 for SB 13 - State: Delaware - Session: 153rd General Assembly (2024–2026) - Title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 6 AND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HOSPITAL CHARITY CARE AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-06-11 - Last action: 2026-07-20, Signed by Governor - Sponsor: Marie Pinkney (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 8 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (44 yes, 16 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 7 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Stronger medical debt protections for patients: benefit, high. Providers aware of a completed assistance or coverage application under review cannot report the charges to credit bureaus or pursue collections. They also cannot sell or assign the debt, sue, or start arbitration while review is pending. Hospitals must tell patients in writing that bills received… - Lower hospital bills for Delaware patients: benefit, high. Beginning January 1, 2027, Delaware residents who qualify get minimum discounts on their share of medically necessary hospital bills. Care is free at household income up to 300% of the federal poverty level. The minimum discount is 75% above 300% through 350%, and 50% above 350% through 400%. Hospi… - Faster assistance decisions and patient refunds: benefit, medium. Hospitals must help patients apply through multiple methods using the state's standard application and approved income documents. They must allow reasonable time to supply missing items and issue written decisions within 21 days of completed applications. Patients can appeal, apply during collectio… - Hospital discounts for patients facing hardship: benefit, medium. The law requires hospitals to offer hardship assistance to patients above the standard income limits. Hospital costs for one visit, including deductibles, must equal at least 10% of annual household income. The minimum discount is 50%, and any hospital-set income ceiling cannot be below 500% of the… - Hospitals must help patients find assistance: benefit, medium. Hospitals must post assistance notices and explain at registration or admission how patients can apply and get staff help. They must offer screening and applications to uninsured patients, patients paying any share themselves, and patients owing at least $500 after insurance. Written payment reques… - Patient help while public coverage is reviewed: benefit, medium. Possible Medicaid or other public coverage does not by itself justify denying or delaying hospital assistance. Hospitals must screen using available information, make reasonable enrollment efforts, and record whether the patient appears eligible before relying on possible coverage. Patients legally… - State oversight protects hospital financial help: benefit, low. The Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board sets assistance standards, forms, screening methods, and regulations. Hospitals must report annually on application outcomes and reasons, presumptive approvals, decision times, and assistance costs and operating-expense shares. The Board must post hospit… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Marie Pinkney (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Daniel Cruce (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Kerri Evelyn Harris (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Larry Lambert (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Melissa Minor-Brown (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Nicole Poore (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Melanie Ross Levin (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Bryan Townsend (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-23 | House | Passed (SM required) | pass | 27 | 13 | | | 2026-06-11 | Senate | Passed (SM required) | pass | 17 | 3 | | ## Actions (6) - 2026-07-20: Signed by Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-23: Passed By House. Votes: 27 YES 13 NO 1 ABSENT (House) - 2026-06-18: Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 1 Favorable, 8 On Its Merits (House) - 2026-06-11: Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House (House) - 2026-06-11: Passed By Senate. Votes: 17 YES 3 NO 1 ABSENT (Senate) - 2026-06-11: was introduced and adopted in lieu of SB 13 (Senate) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-06-11: [HTML](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=143519&legislationTypeId=6&docTypeId=2) ## Related bills - HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITIONIST LICENSURE ACT. (passed house) - HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO SUPPORT POOR PERSONS. (signed) - SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS. (vetoed) - HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLIC UTILITY CONSUMERS. (vetoed) - SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS. (vetoed) - HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING FOAM AND EQUIPMENT. (failed) ## Sources - [Current (HTML)](https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=143519&legislationTypeId=6&docTypeId=2) ## Related - [HS 1 for HB 449: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DIETITIAN/NUTRITI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HS1FORHB449-153) - [HB 357: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 10 AND 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE DUTY TO S…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB357-153) - [SB 279: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB279-153) - [HB 393: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PROTECTIONS FOR PUBLI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB393-153) - [SB 231: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SB231-153) - [HB 356: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-HB356-153) - [Delaware bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/delaware/bills) - [Delaware state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/delaware) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DE-SS1FORSB13-153 (as of 2026-10-12).