Ind. Code ch. 16-21-9.5

in effect

Ind. Code § 16-21-9.5-1 "Collection action"

Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "collection action" means the sale or assignment of a bill to a collection agency, or the pursuit of litigation for medical debt, by a hospital or any organization that has a financial relationship with the hospital. As added by P.L.88-2026, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 16-21-9.5-2 "Payment assistance program"

Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "payment assistance program" refers to any of the following: (1) Charity care. (2) Financial assistance. (3) Any other payment plans made available to a patient by a hospital. As added by P.L.88-2026, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 16-21-9.5-3 Notice of payment assistance program

Sec. 3. (a) A hospital shall provide written notice of the hospital's payment assistance program to a patient or the patient's representative at one (1) of the following times: (1) During registration or intake for inpatient or outpatient services. (2) At discharge. (3) With the initial billing statement for the provided services. (b) The written notice required under subsection (a) must include the following: (1) A description of available payment assistance programs. (2) Eligibility criteria. (3) Application instructions. (4) Contact information for a hospital representative when assistance is needed to complete the application. (c) A hospital may provide notice to a patient or the patient's representative under subsection (a): (1) in a writing delivered to the patient or the patient's representative; (2) by electronic mail; or (3) through a mobile application or another Internet based method, if available; according to the preference for communication expressed by the patient or patient's representative. As added by P.L.88-2026, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 16-21-9.5-4 Signage

Sec. 4. A hospital shall post conspicuous signage notifying patients of the availability of payment assistance programs in the following locations: (1) Registration areas. (2) Emergency departments. As added by P.L.88-2026, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 16-21-9.5-5 Information available on patient portal

Sec. 5. A hospital shall make payment assistance program information available electronically through any patient portal maintained by the hospital. As added by P.L.88-2026, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 16-21-9.5-6 Notice before beginning collection action

Sec. 6. Before beginning a collection action, a hospital shall make a reasonable effort to notify the individual of available payment assistance programs and provide the individual with an application form. As added by P.L.88-2026, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 16-21-9.5-7 Nonprofit hospital reporting

Sec. 7. A nonprofit hospital shall annually report compliance with this chapter as part of the nonprofit hospital's community benefits plan report under IC 16-21-9-7. As added by P.L.88-2026, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 16-21-9.5-8 Rules

Sec. 8. The state department may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to administer and enforce this chapter. As added by P.L.88-2026, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 16-21-9.5-9 Civil penalty

Sec. 9. The state department may assess a hospital a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation for failure to comply with this chapter. A penalty collected under this section shall be deposited into the state general fund. As added by P.L.88-2026, SEC.5.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/16Fetched: 10/17/2026