Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA): Federal law that protects consumers from abusive debt collection practices and provides guidelines for debt collectors' conduct.
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): Federal law governing the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer credit information, including medical debt reporting.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): Federal law that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information and patient rights regarding their health information.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA): Comprehensive health care reform law that includes provisions affecting medical billing and patient protections.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Regulations: Federal agency rules that provide additional consumer protections in financial matters, including medical debt collection.
No Surprises Act: Federal law effective from January 1, 2022, protecting patients from unexpected medical bills, particularly from out-of-network providers.
Hospital Price Transparency Rule: Federal regulation requiring hospitals to provide clear, accessible pricing information about their items and services.
State-Specific Medical Debt Laws: Various state laws governing medical debt collection, including statute of limitations and specific consumer protections that vary by jurisdiction.
HIPAA Privacy Rule: Specific provisions under HIPAA that establish national standards for the protection of individuals' medical records and other personal health information.
State-Specific Medical Privacy Regulations: Additional state-level privacy protections for medical information that may exceed federal HIPAA requirements.
