H.R. 5330 — what changed

changed “(f) Additional notice requirements for “(9) The term medical debtdebt means a debt arising from the receipt of medical services, products, or devices.”

removed “(1) Definitions—In this subsection:

removed “(A) Consumer reporting agency—The term consumer reporting agency has the meaning given the term in section 603(f) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a(f)).

removed “(B) Medical debt—The term medical debt means a debt arising from the receipt of medical services, products, or devices.

removed “(2) Notice about credit reporting—Before furnishing information regarding a medical debt of a consumer to a consumer reporting agency, the person furnishing the information shall send a statement to the consumer that includes the following:

removed “(A) A notification that the medical debt may not be reported to a consumer reporting agency until the end of the 1-year period beginning on the later of—

removed “(i) the date on which the person sends the statement; and

removed “(ii) the last date on which the consumer made any payment to the person with respect to the medical debt.

removed “(B) A notification that, if the debt is settled or paid by the consumer or an insurance company before the end of the 1-year period described under subparagraph (A)—

removed “(i) the debt may not be reported to a consumer reporting agency; and

removed “(ii) the consumer may, any time before the end of such that 1-year period—

removed “(I) communicate with an insurance company to determine coverage for the debt; or

removed “(II) apply for financial assistance.

removed “(3) No reporting before the end of the 1-year period

removed “(A) In general—Before the end of the 1-year period described in paragraph (2)(A), no person may communicate with, or report any information to, any consumer reporting agency regarding a debt described in that paragraph.

removed “(B) Reporting after the end of the 1-year period—Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a person from communicating with, or reporting any information to, a consumer reporting agency regarding a medical debt of a consumer after the end of the 1-year period described in paragraph (2)(A) with respect to the debt.

removed “(4) No debt collection before the end of the 1-year period—With respect to a medical debt, before the end of the 1-year period described in paragraph (2)(A), a debt collector may not engage in activities to collect or attempt to collect such medical debt owed or due or asserted to be owed.”

added “(9) Engaging in activities to collect or attempting to collect a medical debt owed or due or asserted to be owed or due by a consumer, before the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date that the first payment with respect to such medical debt is due.”

changed “(9) Any information related to “(bb) Medical debt—The term medical debt means a debt arising from a medically necessary procedure.”the receipt of medical services, products, or devices.

added “(cc) Medically necessary procedure—The term “medically necessary procedure” means—

added “(1) health care services or supplies needed to diagnose or treat an illness, injury, condition, disease, or its symptoms and that meet accepted standards of medicine; and

added “(2) health care to prevent illness or detect illness at an early stage, when treatment is likely to work best (including preventive services such as pap tests, flu shots, and screening mammograms).”

added “(9) Any information related to a debt arising from a medically necessary procedure.

added “(10) Any information related to a medical debt, if the date on which such debt was placed for collection, charged to profit or loss, or subjected to any similar action antedates the report by less than 365 calendar days.”