This bill establishes the following requirements related to credit cards designed specifically for the payment of health care services.
1. It prohibits a health care provider from offering or arranging for a medical credit card for a consumer, or establishing or otherwise completing any portion of an application for a medical credit card on a consumer's behalf, in that health care provider's office, treatment area or other health care setting.
2. It prohibits a health care provider from offering, arranging for or establishing a medical credit card for a consumer that contains a deferred interest provision in the medical credit card contract.
3. It prohibits a health care provider from charging the costs for health care services to a medical credit card at any time prior to the date upon which health care services are rendered or costs are incurred.
4. It requires a health care provider to screen a consumer for eligibility for charity care before accepting payment from a consumer using a medical credit card.
5. It provides that a creditor that extends a medical credit card to a consumer and is attempting to collect unpaid payments in connection with the medical credit card from a consumer is subject to the provisions of the Maine Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 2174, SP 925: 9-A.5