Washington State bill demands changes to medical lien law, third-party vendor regulation

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.

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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.

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