Sec. 19a-673b. Initiation of debt collection activities. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 19a-673b. Initiation of debt collection activities. (a) No hospital shall refer to a collection agent, as defined in section 19a-509b, or initiate an action against an individual patient or such patient's estate to collect fees arising from care provided at a hospital on or after October 1, 2003, unless the hospital has made a determination whether such individual is (1) an uninsured patient, as defined in section 19a-673, and (2) not eligible for the hospital bed fund.

      (b) Nothing in this section shall affect a hospital's ability to initiate an action against an individual patient or such patient's estate to collect coinsurance, deductibles or fees arising from care provided at a hospital where such coinsurance, deductibles or fees may be eligible for reimbursement through awards, settlements or judgments arising from claims, suits or proceedings. In addition, nothing in this section shall affect a hospital's ability to initiate an action against an individual patient or such patient's estate where payment or reimbursement has been made, or likely is to be made, directly to the patient.

      (P.A. 03-266, S. 3; P.A. 04-46, S. 1; 04-257, S. 88.)

      History: P.A. 04-46 made technical changes and added Subdiv. (1) and (2) indicators in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-257 made technical changes, effective June 14, 2004.