The Hospital Bill
Minn. Stat. 144.587 — screened for charity care, and no collections while it is decided
In Minnesota, a hospital screens any uninsured patient, or one whose coverage it does not know, for charity care, attempting to finish the screening in person or by telephone within 30 days after the services.
Nothing while the application is pending. Until the hospital finds the patient ineligible or denies the application, it may not offer or change a payment plan, offer a loan or line of credit for the debt, refer the debt for collections of any kind, or accept a credit card payment over $500 for it.
Reasonable requests. Requests for verification are limited to what is reasonably necessary and readily available, with no duplicate forms, and requiring an application to a program the patient is obviously ineligible for, or was found ineligible for in the previous 12 months, is an unreasonable burden.
A sworn review before a lawsuit. To sue a patient for medical debt, or garnish wages or bank accounts, the hospital serves an affidavit of expert review certifying, among other things, that it screened the patient, billed every known insurer, gave a reasonable opportunity to apply for charity care, and offered a reasonable payment plan when asked. Without it, the action is dismissed with prejudice on motion.
A ceiling on the price. A hospital may not charge a patient whose annual household income is less than $125,000 more for an uninsured service than the lowest total amount a nongovernmental insurer would pay for it.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionMedical debt goes to collections right away | What the law actually doesNot while a charity care application is pending |
| The assumptionAn uninsured patient pays the full list price | What the law actually doesUnder $125,000 in household income, no more than the lowest private insurer amount |
Insurance appeals, surprise billing rules and the federal rules for nonprofit hospitals are not all on this page. Whether a particular bill qualifies, or a particular collection step was allowed, is a question for a licensed Minnesota attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- Minn. Stat. 144.587 — Requirements for screening for eligibility for health coverage or assistance
- Minn. Stat. 144.588 — Certification of expert review
- Minn. Stat. 144.589 — Billing of uninsured patients
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Minnesota attorney.