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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>66490</law_id><section_number>59.1-612</section_number><catch_line>(Effective July 1, 2026) Billing and collection rules; limits on creditors</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="59.1">Trade and Commerce</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="59">Medical Debt Protection Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> No large health care facility or <span class="dictionary">medical debt buyer</span> shall charge a <span class="dictionary">patient</span> any interest or late fees on medical debt until 90 days following the due date applicable to the final invoice, and no such interest or late fees shall exceed three percent of the amount of such medical debt per annum. <a id="paragraph-241281" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> No <span class="dictionary">medical creditor</span> or <span class="dictionary">medical debt collector</span> shall use any of the following <span class="dictionary">extraordinary collection actions</span> to collect <span class="dictionary">medical debts</span>: <a id="paragraph-241282" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Causing an individual&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>; <a id="paragraph-241283" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Causing an individual to be subject to a <span class="dictionary">writ</span> of body <span class="dictionary">attachment</span>; <a id="paragraph-241284" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Foreclosing on an individual&#x2019;s real property; <a id="paragraph-241285" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Placing a <span class="dictionary">lien</span> on an individual&#x2019;s personal property; or <a id="paragraph-241286" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Garnishing the wages of any individual qualifying for financial assistance under the <span class="dictionary">financial assistance policy</span> applicable to the underlying medical debt. <a id="paragraph-241287" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> No <span class="dictionary">medical creditor</span> shall sell an individual&#x2019;s medical debt to a <span class="dictionary">medical debt buyer</span> except if, prior to such sale, the <span class="dictionary">medical creditor</span> has entered into a legally binding written agreement with the <span class="dictionary">medical debt buyer</span> under which all of the following apply: <a id="paragraph-241288" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The <span class="dictionary">medical debt buyer</span> is prohibited from engaging in any <span class="dictionary">extraordinary collection action</span> described in subsection B to obtain payment; <a id="paragraph-241289" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The <span class="dictionary">medical debt buyer</span> is prohibited from charging interest on the debt at a rate higher than three percent per annum; <a id="paragraph-241290" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The debt is returnable to or recallable by the <span class="dictionary">medical creditor</span> upon a determination by the <span class="dictionary">medical debt buyer</span> that the individual is eligible for financial assistance under the <span class="dictionary">financial assistance policy</span> applicable to the underlying medical debt; and <a id="paragraph-241291" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The <span class="dictionary">medical debt buyer</span> is required to adhere to specified procedures that ensure that the individual does not pay, and has no obligation to pay, the <span class="dictionary">medical debt buyer</span> more than such individual is responsible for paying in compliance with this chapter. <a id="paragraph-241292" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#C4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A <span class="dictionary">medical creditor</span> that sells medical debt to a <span class="dictionary">medical debt buyer</span> under an agreement described in subsection C remains liable for any actions taken by such <span class="dictionary">medical debt buyer</span> in relation to such medical debt, subject to any indemnification provisions as may be agreed to by such parties. <a id="paragraph-241293" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> No <span class="dictionary">medical creditor</span> or <span class="dictionary">medical debt collector</span> shall take any <span class="dictionary">extraordinary collection action</span> until 120 days following the due date applicable to the final invoice for a health care service. At least 30 days before taking any <span class="dictionary">extraordinary collection action</span>, a <span class="dictionary">medical creditor</span> or <span class="dictionary">medical debt collector</span> shall provide the <span class="dictionary">patient</span> a notice including: <a id="paragraph-241294" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> If the medical debt resulted from <span class="dictionary">health care services</span> provided by a large health care facility, a statement of whether financial assistance is available for eligible individuals and a plain language summary of any <span class="dictionary">financial assistance policy</span>; <a id="paragraph-241295" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#E1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A list of any <span class="dictionary">extraordinary collection actions</span> that will be taken to obtain payment; and <a id="paragraph-241296" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#E2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> A deadline after which such <span class="dictionary">extraordinary collection actions</span> will be initiated, which shall be at least 30 days after the date such notice is provided. <a id="paragraph-241297" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#E3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> No large health care facility or <span class="dictionary">medical debt collector</span> collecting medical debt for <span class="dictionary">health care services</span> provided by a large health care facility shall use any <span class="dictionary">extraordinary collection action</span> unless such action is described in the large health care facility&#x2019;s billing and collections policy. <a id="paragraph-241298" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> If a <span class="dictionary">patient</span> has paid any part of a medical debt in excess of the amount owed after any financial assistance offered by a large health care facility, the large health care facility or <span class="dictionary">medical debt collector</span>, as specified in the agreement required by subsection C, shall refund any excess amount to the <span class="dictionary">patient</span> within 60 days after determination of such excess payment. <a id="paragraph-241299" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/59.1-612/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2025, c. 692.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
