These are the legal provisions related to hospital financial assistance/charity care in the state of Massachusetts. This is intended for educational use and should not be treated as legal advice.
Is there a state charity care law?
Yes, Massachusetts has its own law.
Qualifications for charity care in Massachusetts
Does the law specify a minimum Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for charity care?
No, Massachusetts law does not specify a minimum FPL, so federal law would apply.
Federal law does not set a minimum FPL. Nonprofit hospitals are simply required to follow their financial assistance policy.
Does the law specify a minimum deadline for applying for charity care?
Massachusetts law specifies the minimum at 240 days from the first post-discharge bill.
Does the law specify that having insurance disqualifies a patient for charity care?
Massachusetts law explicitly requires hospitals to provide assistance to the insured.
Does the law specify that patients must be residents to be eligible for charity care?
Massachusetts law explicitly requires hospitals to provide assistance regardless of residency.
Does the law specify that patients must be US citizens or documented immigrants/lawful permanent residents to be eligible for charity care?
Massachusetts law explicitly requires hospitals to provide assistance regardless of immigration status.
Does the law specify that patients must owe a minimum bill amount in order to be eligible for charity care?
Massachusetts law explicitly states that hospitals may not impose a minimum bill requirement.
How the law applies to copays in Massachusetts
Does the law specify that patients cannot be responsible for a copay if they are eligible for charity care?
Massachusetts law explicitly states that hospitals may not require a copay from patients eligible for charity care.
Does the law specify that hospitals cannot deny financial assistance to cover patient copays, coinsurance, or deductibles?
Massachusetts law explicitly states that hospitals cannot deny financial assistance to cover patient copays, coinsurance, or deductibles.
Collections laws related to charity care in Massachusetts
Does the law specify that hospitals cannot deny financial assistance to cover patient copays, coinsurance, or deductibles?
A hospital can send a bill to collections. however a hospital cannot sell your debt and cannot refer it to a credit reporting bureau. It also cannot sue you or have a debt collector sue you for at least 180 days after providing you with the initial bill.
Length of time charity care can be applied to future bills in Massachusetts
Does the law specify that hospitals must honor a charity care decision for future bills for a specific length of time?
Massachusetts law does not address this matter, so federal law would apply.
Federal law does not directly address this. Nonprofit hospitals are simply required to follow their financial assistance policy.