Washington State wants to strictly regulate third-party vendors who issue medical liens and to require providers to tell patients upfront that they use liens as part of their billing practices, reports The Bellingham Herald.
The bill by Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, does not address who will be responsible first for paying medical bills but does require third-party vendors who enforce liens to be registered with the state as a collection agency, according to The Bellingham Herald. This bill is reportedly a response to a now-settled lawsuit against MultiCare Health Systems, where a group of patients sued them and the third-party vendor alleging improper filing of liens beginning in 2010 as well as an illegally registered notary.
The measure is now in Senate after passing the House earlier this month.