WA People
BILL · 2019–20 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SHB 1531

HB 1531: Medical debt

Concerning medical debt.

Summary

  • Lowers the prejudgment interest rate on medical debt to 9 percent and prohibits the sale or assignment of medical debt to a collection agency until 120 days after the initial bill statement is sent to the patient or responsible party.
  • Outlines requirements for collection agencies when collecting medical and hospital debt, including the provision of itemized statements, delayed reporting of a medical debt to a credit bureau for 180 days, and mandatory notification of a debtor's possible qualification for charity care.

From the Substitute Senate Bill Report (SHB 1531), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 227, Laws of 2019
  1. IntroducedJan 23, 2019
  2. Out of committeeFeb 19, 2019
  3. Passed HouseMar 1, 2019
  4. Passed SenateApr 15, 2019
  5. GovernorApr 30, 2019
  6. LawApr 30, 2019
Prime sponsor
Laurie Jinkins (D-27)
Introduced
January 23, 2019 in the House
Last action
April 30, 2019
Session law
Chapter 227, Laws of 2019
Companion bill
SB 5530
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 1531, SHB 1531

AN ACT Relating to medical debt;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Laurie Jinkins (D-27)

8 co-sponsors (8 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Amy Walen D-48Tina Orwall D-33Eileen Cody D-34June Robinson D-38Marcus Riccelli D-3Javier Valdez D-46Timm Ormsby D-3Nicole Macri D-43

Votes

House · Final Passage

March 1, 2019
Version voted on: SHB 1531
89 Yea 4 Nay 1 Absent 4 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat55002
Republican34412
How each member voted

Yea (89)

Absent (1)

Excused (4)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage on Reconsideration

Passed March 1, 2019
Version voted on: SHB 1531
90 Yea 4 Nay 0 Absent 4 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat55002
Republican35402
How each member voted

Yea (90)

Excused (4)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed April 15, 2019
Version voted on: SHB 1531
48 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat28001
Republican20000
How each member voted

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 7/28/2019. (SHB 1531)
  2. Chapter 227, 2019 Laws. (SHB 1531)
  3. Governor signed. (SHB 1531)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (SHB 1531)
  5. President signed. (SHB 1531)
  6. Speaker signed. (SHB 1531)
  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1. (SHB 1531)
  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SHB 1531)
  9. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SHB 1531)
  10. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (SHB 1531)
  11. LAW - Majority; do pass. (SHB 1531)
  12. First reading, referred to Law & Justice. (SHB 1531)
  13. Third reading, passed; yeas, 90; nays, 4; absent, 0; excused, 4. (SHB 1531)
  14. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SHB 1531)
  15. 1st substitute bill substituted. (SHB 1531)
  16. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  17. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SHB 1531)
  18. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  19. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SHB 1531)
  20. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  21. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 1531)
  22. CRJ - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1531)
  23. CRJ - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  24. Minority; do not pass.
  25. First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.

HB 1531 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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