Medical Debt

HB 1271 revises Florida law to define "extraordinary collection actions" (like selling debt or filing lawsuits) and explicitly lists "prohibited collection actions" for medical debt. It bans healthcare providers and debt collectors from threatening arrest, garnishing wages, seizing bank accounts, reporting debt to credit bureaus, or denying care due to unpaid bills. The bill requires medical debt buyers to follow specific rules, including returning debt to providers if patients qualify for financial assistance. This directly affects patients with medical debt and healthcare facilities collecting payments, taking effect July 1, 2026.