HB 2129 -- Debt Offsets for Unpaid Medical Bills

Sponsor:  Cooper

Currently, the Department of Health and Senior Services processes
claims submitted by hospitals and health care providers
requesting an offset of income tax refunds to satisfy an
outstanding debt owed by a taxpayer.  This bill repeals the
process by which the department requests offsets and instead
authorizes an entity designated as a claim clearinghouse to
process and verify requests for an offset for ambulance service
providers of taxpayer income tax refunds and lottery winnings to
satisfy outstanding debts for ambulance services received.  Prior
to utilizing the clearinghouse, an ambulance service provider
must give certain notices to patients and allow for various
levels of review and appeals of their claims.  A collection
assistance fee allocated between the clearinghouse and the
Department of Revenue is assessed to each offset for the costs of
collecting the debt.  Claims for debts owed to ambulance service
providers requesting an offset will receive the least priority as
specified in Section 143.789, RSMo.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:13 pm