S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1356
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 9, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, OTIS, SIMONE, HEVESI, GONZALEZ-ROJAS,
BURDICK, SEAWRIGHT, EPSTEIN, WEPRIN, HUNTER, STIRPE, SHIMSKY, LEVEN-
BERG, GLICK, REYES, DE LOS SANTOS, McDONOUGH, SIMON, FORREST, ROSEN-
THAL, MAMDANI, RAGA, BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to prohibiting state-
operated hospitals from suing patients for medical debt
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new article 51
to read as follows:
ARTICLE 51
PROHIBITION ON STATE-OPERATED HOSPITALS SUING PATIENTS FOR
MEDICAL DEBT
SECTION 5100. PROHIBITION ON STATE-OPERATED HOSPITALS SUING PATIENTS FOR
MEDICAL DEBT.
§ 5100. PROHIBITION ON STATE-OPERATED HOSPITALS SUING PATIENTS FOR
MEDICAL DEBT. 1. NO STATE UNIVERSITY HEALTH CARE FACILITY AUTHORIZED
UNDER ARTICLE EIGHT OF THE EDUCATION LAW, CANCER INSTITUTE AUTHORIZED
UNDER ARTICLE TEN-C OF THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW, OR HOSPITAL AUTHOR-
IZED UNDER SECTION TWENTY-SIX HUNDRED OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL PURSUE LITI-
GATION IN CIVIL OR SUPREME COURT AGAINST A PATIENT FOR THE PURSUIT OF A
MEDICAL DEBT.
2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "MEDICAL DEBT" SHALL
MEAN AN OBLIGATION OR ALLEGED OBLIGATION OF A CONSUMER TO PAY ANY AMOUNT
RELATED TO THE RECEIPT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES, PRODUCTS, OR DEVICES
PROVIDED TO A PERSON BY A HOSPITAL LICENSED UNDER ARTICLE TWENTY-EIGHT
OF THIS CHAPTER, A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL AUTHORIZED UNDER TITLE EIGHT
OF THE EDUCATION LAW OR AN AMBULANCE SERVICE CERTIFIED UNDER ARTICLE
THIRTY OF THIS CHAPTER.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00559-01-5
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