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MaineLD 1937132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

An Act to Require Hospitals and Hospital-affiliated Providers to Provide Financial Assistance Programs for Medical Care

Sponsored By: Rachel Talbot Ross (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

HEALTH CARE FACILITIESHEALTH CARE FACILITIES - HOSPITALS

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Free care and capped hospital payments

Beginning July 1, 2026, hospitals must give free, medically necessary care to state residents with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Hospitals must also check for any insurance or public coverage when you are admitted. If you qualify for charity care, the hospital cannot bill you or your town, and it must notify the town within 5 business days of your admission. If your income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, the hospital must offer a payment plan that caps your monthly payments at 4% of your monthly family income (income exempt from garnishment is not counted). Certain hospital‑affiliated outpatient providers must follow the same charity care rules, and if the hospital did not give required advance notice that a service is not covered, it cannot bill you for that service (it may still bill your insurer).

Stronger protections from medical debt

Beginning July 1, 2026, if you qualify for charity care—or would have qualified but did not apply for good reason—debt collectors cannot try to collect that medical debt. If you or your creditor tell the collector you may qualify, collection must stop until the creditor later says you do not qualify. If a hospital failed to give required advance notice that a service is not covered by its financial help, it cannot bill you for that service (it may still bill your insurer). Hospital bills must also show how and whom to contact to dispute a charge.

Easier applications and clear hospital notices

Beginning July 1, 2026, hospitals must make it simpler to apply for financial help. They use your last 3 months of family income multiplied by 4, or your last 12 months if the 3‑month figure does not apply, and they cannot ask about assets or income that do not count for eligibility. No notarization is allowed, and simple papers for residency must be accepted. Hospitals must tell you within 15 days if something is missing, give you at least 30 days to fix it, and decide within 45 days after your application is complete. They must provide interpretation services and translate applications and plain‑language summaries into any language spoken by 5% of the state or 1,000 people, whichever is less. Hospitals must post clear information in the hospital and community, put a full, downloadable application on their website, include how to get help applying, and give written, dated denial reasons with your right to a hearing. By July 1, 2028, every hospital must let you apply online and send an email confirming receipt, and you can also ask for a mailed paper application.

Patient appeals and state enforcement

Beginning July 1, 2026, you can file a complaint with the health department if a hospital breaks these rules. The department reviews complaints within 30 days, can order fixes and bill adjustments, and may seek a civil penalty up to $1,000 for knowing or repeated violations. You must request an administrative hearing within 60 days after the written notice of the decision you want to appeal. The department adopts the rules for this process by June 30, 2026.

Start date, repeal, and state setup

The law takes effect July 1, 2026. It repeals the old charity‑care statute and replaces it with the new system. The state adds one enforcement position in the health department starting July 1, 2026. The state funds about $120,010 in FY 2026–27 ($40,188 General Fund and $79,822 Other Special Revenue) for this work.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Rachel Talbot Ross

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Daniel Shagoury

    Democratic • House

  • Donna Bailey

    Democratic • Senate

  • Drew Gattine

    Democratic • House

  • Henry L. Ingwersen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Holly Stover

    Democratic • House

  • Joseph M. Baldacci

    Democratic • Senate

  • Peggy R. Rotundo

    Democratic • Senate

  • Michele Meyer

    Democratic • House

  • Ryan Fecteau

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 167 • No: 162

House vote • 6/17/2025

ADOPT HAH-707 TO CAS-346

Yes: 71 • No: 76

House vote • 6/17/2025

ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP

Yes: 75 • No: 72

Senate vote • 6/12/2025

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 21 • No: 14

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 488

    7/1/2025

  2. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table PASSED TO BE ENACTED in concurrence.

    6/25/2025Senate

  3. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence

    6/17/2025Senate

  4. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/17/2025House

  5. Speaker laid before the HouseSubsequently, on motion of Representative MEYER of Eliot, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 543(Yeas 75 - Nays 72 - Absent 2 - Excused 2)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-346) was READ.On motion of Representative JAVNER of Chester, House Amendment "A" (H-707) to Committee Amendment "A" (S-346) was READ.Subsequently, House Amendment "A" (H-707) to Committee Amendment "A" (S-346) FAILED ADOPTION.ROLL CALL NO. 544(Yeas 71 - Nays 76 - Absent 2 - Excused 2)Subsequently, Committee Amendment "A" (S-346) was ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-346).In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/17/2025House

  6. Unfinished Business

    6/16/2025House

  7. Unfinished Business

    6/13/2025House

  8. Reports READ.On motion of Representative MEYER of Eliot, TABLED pending ACCEPTANCE of Either Report.Later today assigned.

    6/13/2025House

  9. On motion by Senator INGWERSEN of York Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending ACCEPTANCE OF EITHER REPORT Taken from the table by the President On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-346) Report ACCEPTED PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 487 Yeas 21 - Nays 14 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (S-346) READ and ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-346) Sent down for concurrence.

    6/12/2025Senate

  10. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    5/7/2025House

  11. Committee on HEALTH COVERAGE, INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES suggested and ordered printed On motion by Senator BAILEY of York REFERENCE to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence

    5/7/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Amendment C-A (S-346), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Enacted

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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