Maryland has enacted sweeping new protections for patients struggling with hospital bills.

Under House Bill 268 and its companion Senate Bill 981, which take effect in 2025, hospitals will be required to provide broader financial assistance, reduce out-of-pocket costs for many middle- and lower-income families and follow stricter rules before pursuing unpaid medical debt.

Reduced-Cost Assistance for More Patients

The law creates a sliding scale of financial help for patients whose family income falls between 200 percent and 500 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Patients in this range will see their hospital bills reduced by specific percentages, depending on income.

For example, families earning just above 200 percent of the poverty level may qualify for a 75 percent reduction in c

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