HB5149 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 37659 SPS 67786 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5149

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Dagmara Avelar

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

815 ILCS 505/2EEEE new

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that it is an unlawful practice under the Act for a person to report to a consumer reporting agency any medical debt incurred by a consumer or any collection action against the consumer to collect that medical debt.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning business.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act is amended by adding Section 2EEEE as follows:

(815 ILCS 505/2EEEE new)

Sec. 2EEEE. Credit reporting; medical debt.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Collection action" means any referral of a bill to a collection agency or law firm to collect payment for services from a consumer for health care services.

"Consumer reporting agency" has the meaning ascribed to it in 15 U.S.C. 1681a(f).

"Medical debt" means a debt arising from the receipt of health care services. "Medical debt" does not include debt charged to a credit card, unless the credit card is issued under an open-end or closed-end plan offered specifically for the payment of health care services, products, or devices provided to a person.

(b) It is an unlawful practice under this Act for a person to report to a consumer reporting agency any medical debt incurred by a consumer or any collection action against the consumer to collect that medical debt.