Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-1-725.17
This is the official text of Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-1-725.17, part of Oklahoma’s Stat. tit. 63, — part of the compiled statutory law of Oklahoma, published by the state as "Stat. tit. 63,." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
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Noncompliance — Patient collection protections
Official statutory text
A. A hospital that is not in material compliance with this act
on the date that items or services are purchased from or provided to
a patient by the hospital shall not initiate or pursue collection
action against the patient or patient guarantor for a debt owed for
the items or services.
B. If a patient believes that a hospital was not in material
compliance with this act on a date on or after the effective date of
this act that items or services were purchased by or provided to the
patient, and the hospital takes a collection action against the
patient or patient guarantor, the patient or patient guarantor may
file suit to determine if the hospital was materially out of
compliance with this act on the date of service and if the
noncompliance is related to the items or services. The hospital
shall not take a collection action against the patient or patient
guarantor while the lawsuit is pending.
C. A hospital that has been found by a judge or jury to be
materially out of compliance with this act:
1. Shall refund the payor any amount of the debt the payor has
paid and shall pay a penalty to the patient or patient guarantor in
an amount equal to the total amount of the debt;
2. Shall dismiss or cause to be dismissed any court action with
prejudice and pay any reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred by
the patient or patient guarantor relating to the action; and
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety Page 293
3. Shall remove or cause to be removed from the patient’s or
patient guarantor’s credit report any report made to a consumer
reporting agency relating to the debt.
D. Nothing in this act:
1. Prohibits a hospital from billing a patient, patient
guarantor, or third-party payor, including a health insurer, for
items or services provided to the patient; or
2. Requires a hospital to refund any payment made to the
hospital for items or services provided to the patient, as long as
no collection action is taken in violation of this act.
on the date that items or services are purchased from or provided to
a patient by the hospital shall not initiate or pursue collection
action against the patient or patient guarantor for a debt owed for
the items or services.
B. If a patient believes that a hospital was not in material
compliance with this act on a date on or after the effective date of
this act that items or services were purchased by or provided to the
patient, and the hospital takes a collection action against the
patient or patient guarantor, the patient or patient guarantor may
file suit to determine if the hospital was materially out of
compliance with this act on the date of service and if the
noncompliance is related to the items or services. The hospital
shall not take a collection action against the patient or patient
guarantor while the lawsuit is pending.
C. A hospital that has been found by a judge or jury to be
materially out of compliance with this act:
1. Shall refund the payor any amount of the debt the payor has
paid and shall pay a penalty to the patient or patient guarantor in
an amount equal to the total amount of the debt;
2. Shall dismiss or cause to be dismissed any court action with
prejudice and pay any reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred by
the patient or patient guarantor relating to the action; and
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety Page 293
3. Shall remove or cause to be removed from the patient’s or
patient guarantor’s credit report any report made to a consumer
reporting agency relating to the debt.
D. Nothing in this act:
1. Prohibits a hospital from billing a patient, patient
guarantor, or third-party payor, including a health insurer, for
items or services provided to the patient; or
2. Requires a hospital to refund any payment made to the
hospital for items or services provided to the patient, as long as
no collection action is taken in violation of this act.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
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