{"meta":{"key":"d012--main","task":"D012","title":"Research Report: Medical, Dental, and Long-Term Care Debt","parent_title":"Medical dental and long term care debt","edition":"initial","path":"/research/d012--main/","kind":"initial","category":"subject","role":"foundation","area_numbers":[16],"groups":["debt-types"],"date":"2026-10-22","tables":6,"claims":49,"sources":37,"review_status":"original_and_remaining_required_medical_work_open","review_complete":true,"sha256":"4928a9e263039d02a9f6c20f5781141b44d32b15b9cd489554ff76df3072cf31","headings":["Executive findings and controlling status","A016 — Medical, dental and long-term care debt","Hospitals, clinicians, emergency services and debt validity","Surprise bills, uninsured estimates, ambulance, dental and itemization","Charity assistance, mental health, rehabilitation, nursing and long-term care","Collections, credit, financing, litigation and tax","Debt collection and litigation","Credit reporting","Medical credit cards and provider financing","Tax, bankruptcy, collateral and guarantors","Worked examples and practical comparisons","Hospital charity-care ceiling","Self-pay good-faith-estimate dispute","Standard CareCredit minimum payment","Deferred-interest risk","Insolvency and medical-debt cancellation","Nursing-home admission signature","California ground-ambulance example","Insurance-appeal calendar","Comparison matrix","Source register","Material claim register and coverage","Material claim register","Coverage table","Publication opportunities, open questions and researcher self-check","Draft article, tool and document opportunities","Open questions and publication holds","Researcher self-check"],"generation_provenance":{"actual_route":null,"actual_model":null,"actual_mode":null,"provenance_limit":"Actual documented capture labels only; missing labels remain unknown. No preferred setting is inferred as actual execution."},"public_id":"D012/initial","facets":{"geography":["us","us-ca"],"debt_type":["medical","dental"],"stage":[],"subject":["medical-assistance","employment-care-benefits"]},"scope":"","pending_corrections":0},"markdown":"# D012 Research Report: Medical, Dental, and Long-Term Care Debt\n\n**Assignment:** SettleADebt.com shared research library D012\n\n**Assigned area:** A016 — Medical, dental and care debt\n\n**Baseline / check date:** October 22, 2026, America/Los_Angeles\n\n**Scope:** Reusable public research; not individualized financial, legal, tax, insurance, or medical advice. Federal law is researched nationally. California is used as a detailed state example because state medical-debt rules materially diverge. Tribal-law treatment is separated from federal Indian-health law; individual tribal codes were not surveyed Nation-by-Nation.\n\n## Executive findings and controlling status\n\nThe most important publication point is that **“medical debt” is not a single legal category with a single rule set**. A hospital balance, independent-physician bill, ambulance balance, dental account, nursing-home receivable, insurance-denial balance, and CareCredit balance can have materially different defenses, assistance rights, collection restrictions, credit-reporting consequences, and tax treatment. The first useful classification is therefore **who is owed, for what service, under what payment arrangement, and under which program or contract**. [D012-C001]\n\nAt the federal level, five regimes do most of the work:\n\n1. \nThe **No Surprises Act** restricts many out-of-network bills for emergency care, certain non-emergency services at in-network hospitals/hospital outpatient departments/ambulatory surgical centers, and air ambulance services. As of the October 22, 2026 baseline, **ground ambulance generally remains outside the federal balance-billing protections**, though states can add protection. CMS also says the federal balance-billing rules generally do not apply to dental-only or vision-only insurance. 1 [D012-C002–C004]\n\n2. \n**Internal Revenue Code §501(r)** imposes financial-assistance, charge-limitation, and collection-process requirements on hospital facilities operated by tax-exempt hospital organizations. It is **not a general federal charity-care law for every doctor, dentist, ambulance company, nursing facility, or for-profit hospital**. 2 [D012-C009–C011]\n\n3. \n**EMTALA** requires Medicare-participating hospitals with emergency departments to provide the required medical screening examination and, where applicable, stabilizing treatment or an appropriate transfer without conditioning the examination on ability to pay. It is an emergency-access rule, not a general rule making the resulting care free. 3 [D012-C012]\n\n4. \nThe **FDCPA/Regulation F** regulates covered third-party debt collectors, including validation and time-barred-debt conduct; it generally does not transform an original hospital or physician collecting its own debt into an FDCPA “debt collector.” State collection law can be broader. 4 [D012-C025–C028]\n\n5. \nThe CFPB’s 2025 rule that would broadly have removed medical debt from credit reports was **vacated on July 11, 2025 and is not operative at this baseline**. CFPB’s current compliance page states that the Eastern District of Texas concluded the rule exceeded statutory authority and that the FCRA permits coded medical-debt information under the statutory conditions. State laws may separately prohibit medical-debt reporting; California does. 5 [D012-C029–C031]\n\n\nThere is also a major distinction between **provider debt and financing debt**. A provider may offer a payment plan, or a patient may pay the provider using a separate credit product. The March 2026 CareCredit/Synchrony agreement reviewed here is a revolving credit-card contract with its own APRs, fees, minimum-payment formula, deferred-interest provisions, billing-error procedure, assignment rights, default provisions, and account-holder liability. Those contract terms should not be generalized to every “medical credit card.” 6 [D012-C032–C036]\n\n## A016 — Medical, dental and long-term care debt\n\n### Hospitals, clinicians, emergency services and debt validity\n\nA hospital bill should be separated into at least four questions: **was the service actually furnished; was the billed party legally responsible; was insurance or another payer supposed to pay some or all of it; and are there statutory or contractual limits on what the patient may be charged?** An explanation of benefits is evidence of an insurer's adjudication, not by itself a provider invoice or a judicial determination that the patient owes the displayed amount. Insurance appeals, network rules, financial assistance and billing-error disputes can therefore affect the balance before settlement is considered. Federal claims-procedure rules require covered group health plans to provide a reasonable opportunity for a full and fair review of an adverse benefit determination. 7 [D012-C013]\n\nFor a covered ERISA group health claim, 29 C.F.R. §2560.503-1 gives the claimant **at least 180 days after receipt of an adverse benefit determination to appeal**. The regulation also prescribes decision periods that vary by claim type; for example, its post-service appeal framework allows up to 60 days for a one-level appeal and 30 days per level if two mandatory appeal levels are used. Different governmental, church, Medicare, Medicaid and state-regulated arrangements can have different procedures. 7 [D012-C014]\n\nFor emergency care, EMTALA addresses access rather than price. CMS states that a participating hospital may not deny the medical screening examination or stabilizing treatment based on insurance status or ability to pay. The statute and regulation do not create a general federal zero-dollar price for that care; whether a resulting balance is valid still depends on coverage, No Surprises Act restrictions, charity care, payer rules, contract and state law. That latter proposition is a legal characterization of EMTALA's limited subject matter, not a conclusion that every post-EMTALA bill is valid. 3 [D012-C012]\n\nFor insured patients under plans within the No Surprises Act, CMS identifies three central protected categories: emergency room services, non-emergency services related to visits at an **in-network hospital, hospital outpatient department, or ambulatory surgical center**, and out-of-network air ambulance services. CMS expressly says the facility protections do not extend merely because health care was provided; for example, they do not apply to an ordinary doctor's office that is not a hospital outpatient department. 1 [D012-C002]\n\nThis setting limitation matters for **clinicians, rehabilitation, mental-health and dental providers**. An out-of-network anesthesiologist or physician at an in-network hospital can fall within the federal rule even though the same practitioner in an independent office may not. A rehabilitation service may be protected when delivered in a qualifying hospital setting but not merely because the treatment is “rehabilitation.” A psychiatric or behavioral-health service similarly needs a plan-and-setting analysis rather than an assumption that every mental-health provider is within federal surprise-billing law. 1 [D012-C015]\n\nCMS also limits when a patient can waive No Surprises Act protections through **notice and consent**. CMS states that notice must be separate, available in the required format/language framework, and timely; consumers cannot be asked to waive protection for emergency services, when no in-network provider is available for the relevant service at the facility, or for specified ancillary/specialist services. CMS's current page specifically lists categories including assistant surgeons, hospitalists and intensivists and separately addresses emergency-medicine services. 1 [D012-C005]\n\n**Practical document set before treating a hospital/clinician debt as settled-debt inventory:** provider statement; dates and locations of service; CPT/HCPCS/revenue codes where available; insurer EOB; network status; denial/adjustment codes; signed financial-responsibility documents; any No Surprises notice/consent; good-faith estimate if self-pay; hospital FAP and provider-list appendix; payments/adjustments; collector validation notice; and any lawsuit papers. The governing sources above demonstrate why the documents can change legal responsibility; no federal source reviewed supports assuming that the face amount of a provider statement is automatically the enforceable amount. 8 [D012-C001, C013]\n\n### Surprise bills, uninsured estimates, ambulance, dental and itemization\n\nFor uninsured or self-pay individuals, federal rules create a different pathway. Providers and facilities subject to 45 C.F.R. §149.610 generally must furnish a **good faith estimate** when care is scheduled or upon request. CMS describes the estimate as an itemized expected-charge document. At present, CMS warns that implementation can require the patient to obtain separate estimates from different providers involved in an episode of care rather than assuming one estimate necessarily captures every biller. 9 [D012-C006]\n\nThe patient-provider dispute resolution process can be available where the bill from a particular provider or facility is **at least $400 above the expected charges on that provider's or facility's good faith estimate**. The regulation requires initiation generally within **120 calendar days after receiving the initial bill** containing the substantially excessive charge. CMS's October 2026 consumer page confirms the $400 threshold. 10 [D012-C007]\n\nThe PPDR rule also requires an administrative fee, but the regulation itself points to an amount established by the Secretary. Older CMS materials state $25; this research did **not independently verify a 2026 fee notice sufficiently to treat $25 as a baseline-current amount**, so the dollar fee is held from publication as a current-number claim. That is separate from the **Federal provider-plan IDR** administrative fee, which CMS changed in 2026; the provider-plan IDR fee should not be substituted for the patient-provider PPDR fee. 10 [D012-C008]\n\nThe federal ambulance split is unusually important. **Air ambulance** is within the federal No Surprises Act protections described by CMS. **Ground ambulance generally is not**, and CMS explicitly says state law may provide different protection. A ground-ambulance account therefore cannot be classified as a prohibited surprise bill solely because the provider was out of network. 11 [D012-C003]\n\nCalifornia demonstrates why a state overlay is mandatory. The California Department of Managed Health Care states that AB 716 protects members of covered DMHC-regulated commercial full-service plans from being balance billed by noncontracted ground-ambulance providers and limits the enrollee to the applicable **in-network cost-sharing amount**. DMHC's APL 24-010 expressly says its guidance does not apply to Medi-Cal managed-care products, Medicare Advantage products or specialized health-care-service plans, and it notes that self-funded employer coverage is not subject to state regulation. 12 [D012-C037]\n\nDental debt requires two distinct inquiries. Ordinary stand-alone dental-office care is not converted into a federally protected surprise bill merely because it is health care, and CMS states that the No Surprises balance-billing protections **generally do not apply to dental-only insurance plans**. CMS adds that the rules may apply when dental benefits are part of a health plan, so the plan and setting still matter. 1 [D012-C004]\n\nOn **itemization**, three concepts should not be collapsed. A good-faith estimate provides itemized **expected** charges for eligible uninsured/self-pay situations; federal Hospital Price Transparency rules require public price disclosures; and a collector's FDCPA validation notice supplies debt-validation information. None of those, standing alone, establishes a universal federal right for every privately insured or self-pay patient to receive a post-service line-by-line clinical invoice from every provider. This research did not verify such a generally applicable federal statute, so a universal “you have a federal right to an itemized bill” statement is a **publication hold** absent a payer-, program- or state-specific source. 13 [D012-C016]\n\nFederal Hospital Price Transparency is nevertheless useful for validation. CMS states that U.S. hospitals have been required since January 1, 2021 to make specified price information public, including a comprehensive machine-readable file, and §180.60 requires a consumer-friendly display for as many of CMS's 70 specified shoppable services as the hospital provides plus hospital-selected services sufficient to reach **at least 300 shoppable services** when the hospital provides 300 or more. Those public rates can be comparison evidence; they do not automatically replace the patient's contractually or statutorily determined liability. 14 [D012-C017]\n\n### Charity assistance, mental health, rehabilitation, nursing and long-term care\n\nFor a hospital facility operated by a §501(c)(3) hospital organization, IRC §501(r) creates a powerful pre-collection review path. IRS guidance states that the facility must establish a written **financial assistance policy**, limit amounts charged to FAP-eligible patients for emergency and other medically necessary care, and satisfy billing-and-collection requirements before extraordinary collection action. These obligations apply facility-by-facility. 2 [D012-C009]\n\nA FAP must explain the assistance offered and eligibility methodology. For a FAP-eligible individual, §501(r)(5) prevents the hospital from charging more for emergency or other medically necessary care than **amounts generally billed to insured patients** and prohibits gross charges for other covered medical care in the circumstances specified by the statute/regulations. Assistance can be more generous than the AGB ceiling, including free care where the hospital's policy provides it. 15 [D012-C010]\n\nProvider coverage must be checked rather than assumed. The hospital FAP rules contemplate identifying which providers delivering emergency or other medically necessary care in the facility are covered by the FAP and which are not. An independent emergency physician, radiology practice or other professional group can therefore require a separate policy analysis even when the hospital itself is tax exempt. 16 [D012-C018]\n\nBefore a §501(r) facility undertakes covered **extraordinary collection actions**, it must make reasonable efforts to determine FAP eligibility. Current 26 C.F.R. §1.501(r)-6 requires advance written notice of the contemplated ECA with a deadline no earlier than **30 days after the notice**; in the application-period framework quoted by the current regulation, the deadline may be no earlier than the later of 30 days after the applicable notice or **240 days after the first post-discharge billing statement**. A hospital can voluntarily accept applications later. 17 [D012-C011]\n\nThe practical consequence is that **charity screening can be superior to debt settlement** when the account is eligible. A dollar written off under a mandatory or voluntary FAP is not the same transaction as negotiating a compromise with a collector after collection activity begins. Eligibility percentages, income tests, asset tests and covered-provider lists are policy- and state-specific; no universal federal income threshold was found for §501(r). 16 [D012-C019]\n\nFor **mental-health and substance-use-disorder benefits**, the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act generally requires parity in financial requirements and treatment limitations where a plan provides both medical/surgical and MH/SUD benefits. In broad terms, financial requirements applicable to MH/SUD benefits cannot be more restrictive than the predominant requirements applying to substantially all medical/surgical benefits in the relevant classification, and separate cost-sharing requirements are restricted. This can be relevant to a debt created by an allegedly improper coverage denial or benefit limitation, but it does not itself erase every mental-health provider balance. 18 [D012-C020]\n\nCurrent-status caution is essential: the Departments issued a 2024 MHPAEA final rule, but after litigation the Departments announced they would **not enforce the new portions of that 2024 final rule** for failures occurring before the final decision in the litigation plus 18 months. The agencies expressly stated that statutory obligations and the preexisting 2013 final-rule framework continue. A publication should therefore not present every provision of the 2024 rule as currently enforceable. 19 [D012-C021]\n\nFor **rehabilitation debt**, no separate federal “rehab debt” settlement statute was identified. The legal treatment follows the underlying setting and payer: hospital-based rehabilitation can implicate §501(r), the No Surprises Act and hospital billing rules; freestanding rehabilitation offices may not fall within those hospital-specific regimes; skilled nursing or institutional rehabilitation may implicate Medicare/Medicaid and nursing-facility rules. 20 [D012-C022]\n\nFor Medicare/Medicaid-participating **nursing facilities**, 42 C.F.R. §483.15 provides an unusually important guarantor rule: a facility may not request or require a **third-party guarantee of payment as a condition of admission, expedited admission, or continued stay**. The rule does allow the facility to require an individual who has legal access to the resident's income or resources to sign a contract, **without incurring personal financial liability**, to provide payment from the resident's income or resources. 21 [D012-C023]\n\nThe CFPB's Nursing Home Debt Collection Practices circular interprets these restrictions to mean that illegal admission-contract guarantees can be unenforceable and warns that collecting or furnishing information about an invalid nursing-home debt can violate federal consumer-financial law. This is an agency interpretation/enforcement position, not a substitute for the statute/regulation or a holding that every family-member nursing-home debt is invalid. Separate liability can arise under state law, tort theories, misuse of a resident's funds, or an independent lawful agreement. 22 [D012-C024]\n\nLong-term-care analysis must also separate **provider debt from Medicaid estate recovery**. Under 42 U.S.C. §1396p, states must seek recovery in specified circumstances for certain Medicaid benefits, including rules tied to recipients age **55 or older**, and federal law contains restrictions involving a surviving spouse and specified children. That statutory estate claim is not the same debt as an unpaid private nursing-home invoice. Transfer-of-asset, estate-recovery, hardship and probate rules require state-specific analysis. 23 [D012-C038]\n\nFederal Indian-health law creates another specialized exception. IHS states that when Purchased/Referred Care is **authorized for payment**, the patient is not financially liable and the provider may not pursue the balance; IHS cites 25 U.S.C. §1621u and says PRC payment is payment in full. But IHS also warns that a clinical referral does **not necessarily mean payment authorization**, because PRC eligibility, funding and authorization criteria remain separate. 24 [D012-C039–C040]\n\nNo Nation-by-Nation tribal-code survey was completed. Accordingly, “tribal law” beyond the federal IHS/IHCIA rules above remains unresolved; individual tribal health systems, courts and consumer laws require specific jurisdictional research before publication of a tribal-law proposition.\n\n## Collections, credit, financing, litigation and tax\n\n### Debt collection and litigation\n\nThe FDCPA applies to the statutory category of **debt collector**, not automatically to every health-care creditor. 15 U.S.C. §1692a generally defines a debt collector as a person whose principal purpose is debt collection or who regularly collects debts owed to another, while excluding an officer or employee of a creditor collecting the creditor's own debt in the creditor's own name. State laws may regulate original creditors more broadly. 4 [D012-C025]\n\nFor a covered collector, Regulation F requires a validation notice containing specified information about the debt and the consumer's dispute rights. A timely written dispute within the validation period generally requires the collector to cease collection of the disputed debt or disputed portion until it sends verification or a copy of a judgment; a timely written request for the original creditor's identity has a parallel cease-collection mechanism. 25 [D012-C026]\n\nRegulation F also provides that a debt collector must not **bring or threaten to bring a legal action to collect a time-barred debt**, apart from its bankruptcy-proof-of-claim exception. That does not supply one national medical-debt statute of limitations: the applicable limitations period, accrual rule, choice of law, effect of partial payment or acknowledgment, and judgment-enforcement period are state-specific. 26 [D012-C027]\n\nUnder 15 U.S.C. §1692f(1), a debt collector may not collect an amount, including interest or fees, unless it is **expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law**. That rule is particularly important for collection fees or added interest on a medical balance; however, whether the underlying provider's original agreement permits a particular charge is a contract/state-law question. 27 [D012-C028]\n\nThere is no responsible national promise that a medical creditor will settle for a specified percentage, within a specified time, or before or after suit. Settlement authority is creditor-specific; litigation posture, insurance recoveries, liens, FAP status, assignment terms and state law can change bargaining authority. No primary source reviewed establishes a universal medical-debt settlement percentage or timeline. [D012-C041]\n\n### Credit reporting\n\nThe CFPB's January 2025 medical-debt credit-reporting rule is **historical, not currently operative**. On July 11, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas set aside and vacated the rule. CFPB's current June 2026 compliance page says the court agreed that the rule was contrary to the FCRA insofar as it purported to prohibit properly coded medical debt information that the statute permits. 28 [D012-C029]\n\nThat does **not** mean all medical debt is freely reportable everywhere. The FCRA itself has specialized medical-information provisions and, among other protections, special rules for certain **veteran medical debt**: a nationwide consumer reporting agency may not include qualifying veteran medical debt before the statutory one-year period after service and may not include it once fully paid or settled when it has actual knowledge of that status. 29 [D012-C030]\n\nThe nationwide CRAs also made voluntary changes under which the CFPB reported removal of paid medical collections and medical collections below $500, among other changes. Those industry policies are **not the same as federal statutory rights**, and this investigation did not independently re-open and verify October 2026 contractual/policy statements from all three nationwide CRAs. They should be labeled creditor/CRA practice rather than law and rechecked before a policy-sensitive publication. 30 [D012-C042]\n\nCalifornia has a materially stricter rule. The California Attorney General states that **SB 1061 took effect January 1, 2025 and makes it illegal for medical debt to appear on California consumer credit reports**. Because the official Legislature code server returned a 403 response during this research, the current codified text was not independently opened; the current claim is therefore supported by the enforcing regulator's 2025 statement and is held from any finer clause-by-clause statutory assertion until the primary code text can be reopened. 31 [D012-C031]\n\nA separate unresolved issue is whether a balance on a particular **medical credit card** falls within every state's statutory definition of “medical debt.” A revolving card balance may be furnished as ordinary revolving consumer credit, and state definitions differ. No universal statement that “medical credit cards cannot be reported because they funded medical care” is supportable from the sources reviewed.\n\n### Medical credit cards and provider financing\n\nThe actual complete **CareCredit Credit Card Account Agreement issued by Synchrony Bank, revision 3/2026**, was reviewed. Its Schumer-box disclosure lists a **32.99% purchase APR**, a **39.99% penalty APR**, a due date at least **23 days after each billing cycle closes**, a $2 minimum interest charge when interest is imposed, late and returned-payment fees up to $41, and a $1.99 monthly paper-statement fee under the agreement's stated conditions. These are the terms of this CareCredit version, not market-wide medical-financing terms. 6 [D012-C032]\n\nThe agreement calculates interest using a **daily-balance method**, with the disclosed purchase daily rate of .09039% at the 32.99% APR. It adds the day's interest to the daily balance for the next day's calculation. 6 [D012-C033]\n\nThe agreement describes deferred-interest offers of **6, 12, 18 or 24 months**. For such an offer, if the promotional purchase is not paid in full within the promotional period, interest is imposed from the **purchase date** at the applicable purchase APR; the agreement expressly warns that required minimum monthly payments may not pay off the promotional balance before the promotion expires. 6 [D012-C034]\n\nFor balances subject to the standard minimum-payment formula rather than a promotional formula with unique payment rules, the agreement calculates the minimum as the greater of **$30; 3.25% of the new balance; or 1% of the new balance plus current-cycle interest and late fees**, plus past-due amounts and any separate promotional payment, rounded as specified. 6 [D012-C035]\n\nThe agreement states that each approved account holder is responsible for the **full amount due**, not merely a proportional share, and the account may be assigned. That is a contractual guarantor/co-obligor issue distinct from the federal nursing-home rule barring required third-party admission guarantees. 32 [D012-C036]\n\nCareCredit's billing-rights notice requires a written billing-error notice within **60 days after the error appeared on the statement**, identifies the required information, and says the issuer must acknowledge the notice within 30 days unless already corrected and generally resolve it within 90 days. The agreement also contains the FCBA purchase-dispute framework for qualifying dissatisfaction with goods or services. 6 [D012-C043]\n\nThis distinction matters operationally: once a medical provider has been paid through a separate credit-card transaction, the amount owed to Synchrony is governed by the card agreement and applicable consumer-credit law. A dispute with the provider may still create card-billing or claims-and-defenses issues under applicable law, but it should not be presented as if the card issuer were merely the hospital's collection department. 6 [D012-C044]\n\n### Tax, bankruptcy, collateral and guarantors\n\nFederal tax law starts with 26 U.S.C. §61, which includes **income from discharge of indebtedness** in gross income. Section 108 then supplies exclusions, including discharge in a Title 11 bankruptcy case and discharge while the taxpayer is insolvent, subject to the statute's limitations and tax-attribute rules. The Code does **not identify “medical debt” itself as a blanket exclusion category**. 33 [D012-C045]\n\nFor the insolvency exclusion, §108(d)(3) measures insolvency by the excess of liabilities over the fair market value of assets **immediately before the discharge**. Thus, a medical-debt settlement that includes cancellation can have a different federal tax result depending on the debtor's financial condition at that moment. 34 [D012-C046]\n\nInformation-reporting rules for cancellation of debt are separate from whether the amount is ultimately taxable. Treasury materials confirm a **$600 reporting threshold for applicable entities under §6050P**, but this research did not reopen the baseline-current eCFR text of §1.6050P-1 before the tool session closed. The $600 reporting point should therefore be rechecked in the current regulation before being used in a consumer-facing calculator or hard-coded workflow. 35 [D012-C047]\n\nUnder Bankruptcy Code §523, ordinary medical debt is not listed as nondischargeable merely because the obligation arose from health care. That does not mean every medical-related claim is dischargeable: fraud and other §523 exceptions can apply depending on facts, and chapter-specific rules matter. The appropriate claim is therefore **“no medical-debt-specific nondischargeability category was identified,” not “all medical debt is always dischargeable.”** 36 [D012-C048]\n\nNo general federal rule reviewed gives every hospital, doctor or dentist a consensual security interest in a patient's ordinary assets simply because care was rendered. **Collateral and liens are state- and transaction-specific**: hospital/tort-recovery liens, Medicaid estate recovery, judgment liens, consensual financing arrangements and assignments can create different rights. A 50-state medical-lien survey was not completed and is a publication hold. Medicaid estate recovery under §1396p is separately verified as a federal/state long-term-care recovery regime. 23 [D012-C049]\n\nGuarantor analysis likewise requires contract classification. Federal nursing-home law forbids the specified required third-party admission guarantee; it does not automatically nullify every independent lawful obligation a family member may undertake in another context. A joint CareCredit account, for example, expressly makes approved account holders responsible for the full account balance under that contract. 21 [D012-C023, C036]\n\n## Worked examples and practical comparisons\n\n### Hospital charity-care ceiling\n\nAssume a hospital facility is subject to §501(r), the service is emergency or medically necessary care covered by its FAP, the patient qualifies under that FAP, gross charges are **$20,000**, and the hospital's valid AGB methodology produces an illustrative **28% AGB percentage**.\n\n[\n$20,000 \\times 0.28 = $5,600\n]\n\nUnder those assumptions, $5,600 is an illustrative **AGB ceiling**, not necessarily the amount due. If that hospital's FAP provides 100% charity care at the patient's eligibility level, the policy could reduce the patient responsibility to $0; if it supplies a smaller discount, the charge still may not exceed the applicable §501(r) ceiling for the covered care. The 28% figure is hypothetical; every facility's current FAP and AGB calculation must be obtained. 15 [D012-C010]\n\n### Self-pay good-faith-estimate dispute\n\nAssume:\n\n| Input | Amount |\n| --- | --- |\n| Provider's good faith estimate | $2,200 |\n| Initial bill | $2,650 |\n| Difference | $450 |\n\nCalculation:\n\n[\n$2,650-$2,200=$450\n]\n\nBecause $450 is at least $400, the amount clears the federal **dollar threshold** for PPDR, assuming the other eligibility requirements are met. If the patient received the initial bill on July 1, 2026, the initiation notice generally must be submitted within the 120-calendar-day rule. The current PPDR administrative-fee dollar amount should be separately verified before publication. 10 [D012-C007–C008]\n\n### Standard CareCredit minimum payment\n\nAssume a **$2,400 non-promotional new balance**, with no past-due amount, no special promotional-payment component, and—for illustration only—no current-cycle interest or late fee to add to the 1% alternative.\n\nThe three contract alternatives are:\n\n[\n$30\n]\n\n[\n3.25%\\times $2,400 = $78\n]\n\n[\n1%\\times $2,400+$0 = $24\n]\n\nThe greatest is $78, so the illustrative minimum under those assumptions is **$78**, subject to the agreement's rounding and other components. This calculation should **not** be mechanically applied to a deferred-interest promotion that has a unique payment calculation. 6 [D012-C035]\n\n### Deferred-interest risk\n\nFor the same $2,400 balance, the contract's disclosed purchase daily rate is approximately 0.09039%. With a $2,400 daily balance, a first-day interest amount is approximately:\n\n[\n$2,400\\times0.0009039\\approx $2.17\n]\n\nThe actual deferred interest over a promotional period cannot responsibly be estimated by simply multiplying $2.17 by a fixed number of days because the agreement recalculates daily balances, adds daily interest, applies payments/credits, and uses allocation rules. The legally important point is that if the qualifying promotional balance is not paid in full by the promotion deadline, the agreement provides for interest from the original purchase date. 6 [D012-C033–C034]\n\n### Insolvency and medical-debt cancellation\n\nAssume immediately before a $10,000 debt cancellation:\n\n| Tax input | Amount |\n| --- | --- |\n| Total liabilities | $28,000 |\n| Fair-market value of assets | $20,000 |\n| Insolvency | $8,000 |\n| Debt canceled | $10,000 |\n\nUnder §108(d)(3):\n\n[\n$28,000-$20,000=$8,000\n]\n\nSubject to §108's other requirements, the insolvency exclusion is limited to the amount by which the taxpayer is insolvent, here **$8,000**. The remaining **$2,000** could still be discharge-of-indebtedness income unless another exclusion or rule applies.\n\n[\n$10,000-$8,000=$2,000\n]\n\nThis is why “medical debt settlement is tax-free” is not supportable as a general statement. 34 [D012-C045–C046]\n\n### Nursing-home admission signature\n\nAssume an adult child is told to sign one of two clauses for a Medicare/Medicaid-participating nursing facility:\n\n**Clause A:** “I personally guarantee all charges owed by my parent.”\n\n**Clause B:** “I have legal access to the resident's funds and agree, without personal financial liability, to use those funds to pay the facility as required.”\n\nThe federal nursing-facility rule prohibits requiring Clause A as an admission/continued-stay condition. Clause B tracks the type of representative arrangement the regulation permits. That does not decide whether later misconduct involving the resident's assets creates separate liability under state law. 21 [D012-C023]\n\n### California ground-ambulance example\n\nAssume a California enrollee is in a commercial full-service plan regulated by DMHC, the transport is a covered ground-ambulance service, the ambulance is noncontracted, the provider's bill is $3,000, and the plan's corresponding **in-network patient cost sharing is $250**.\n\nUnder DMHC's AB 716 guidance, the patient's responsibility is capped at the applicable in-network cost-sharing amount:\n\n[\n\\text{Patient responsibility}=$250\n]\n\nThe remaining provider-plan reimbursement dispute is not transferred to the enrollee merely because the ambulance was out of network. This example should not be applied to self-funded ERISA coverage, Medicare Advantage, Medi-Cal managed care or specialized-plan products based solely on the cited DMHC APL. 12 [D012-C037]\n\n### Insurance-appeal calendar\n\nAssume an ERISA plan subject to 29 C.F.R. §2560.503-1 delivers a qualifying adverse benefit determination on **May 1, 2026**. An “at least 180 days” appeal period means the plan cannot give a shorter appeal period than the regulatory minimum; 180 calendar days after May 1 is approximately **October 28, 2026**. Receipt date and the plan's actual deadline language control, and a longer plan deadline is permissible. 7 [D012-C014]\n\n### Comparison matrix\n\n| Debt form | First issue to test | Potential high-value alternative to settlement | Major failure case |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Tax-exempt hospital balance | §501(r) FAP / AGB / ECA compliance | Charity or discounted care | Assuming every physician bill is covered by hospital FAP. 16 |\n| Insured surprise bill | NSA setting, emergency status, network, consent | Reprocessing/complaint rather than compromise | Treating ground ambulance as federally protected. 1 |\n| Self-pay provider bill | GFE and billed-versus-estimated amount | PPDR if ≥$400 threshold and timely | No GFE, missed 120-day initiation period, or wrong provider comparison. 10 |\n| Dental office bill | Plan, provider contract, state law | Insurance appeal/provider adjustment | Assuming dental-only plan has full NSA protection. 37 |\n| Nursing-home family-member demand | Who signed, capacity, resident assets, guarantee language | Challenge prohibited admission guarantee | Confusing representative duties with a lawful independent claim. 21 |\n| IHS-authorized PRC bill | Was payment actually authorized? | No-patient-liability correction | Treating a referral as authorization. 24 |\n| Medical credit card | Issuer agreement/promo/FCBA rights | Billing-error or merchant dispute where applicable | Treating card debt as identical to provider debt. 6 |\n| Collector account | Collector status, validation, limitations | Validation / validity correction | Assuming FDCPA governs original creditor in every case. 4 |\n\n## Source register\n\n“Opened” means the supporting page/document was actually retrieved and read in this research session; PDFs used materially were opened and relevant CareCredit/court pages were visually checked. “Discovery-only/limited” identifies sources found but not accepted as final primary support.\n\n| ID | Source / issuer | Direct URL and pinpoint | Version / rule status / jurisdiction | Access and limits |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| **D012-S001** | Requirements for §501(c)(3) Hospitals — IRS | [https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/requirements-for-501c3-hospitals-under-the-affordable-care-act-section-501r](https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/requirements-for-501c3-hospitals-under-the-affordable-care-act-section-501r) — §501(r) overview | IRS page current July 2026; federal; operative | Opened/read. 2 |\n| **D012-S002** | Financial Assistance Policy Requirements — IRS | IRS §501(r)(4) FAP guidance; emergency/medically necessary care and provider scope | Current IRS guidance; federal | Opened/read. 16 |\n| **D012-S003** | Limitation on Charges — IRS / IRC §501(r)(5) | IRS §501(r)(5); AGB limitation and gross-charge rule | Current IRS guidance; federal | Opened/read. 15 |\n| **D012-S004** | 26 C.F.R. §§1.501(r)-1 through -6 — Treasury/IRS | [https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-26/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-1/subject-group-ECFR062882ac6495890](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-26/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-1/subject-group-ECFR062882ac6495890) — especially §§1.501(r)-4, -5, -6 | Current eCFR; federal; final regulations | Opened/read; exact 30/240-day text verified. 17 |\n| **D012-S005** | Know Your Medical Bill Rights — CMS | [https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights](https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights) — lines 684-742 | Page modified Oct. 1, 2026; federal program guidance | Opened/read. 37 |\n| **D012-S006** | Medical Bill Rights When Using Insurance — CMS | [https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights/insurance](https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights/insurance) — lines 699-870+ | Current Oct. 2026; NSA implementation | Opened/read; verifies facility scope, ground ambulance, dental-only exception, notice/consent. 1 |\n| **D012-S007** | 45 C.F.R. Part 149, Subparts E/F | [https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149) — §§149.410, 149.420 | Current eCFR; federal | Opened/read in research. 38 |\n| **D012-S008** | 45 C.F.R. §§149.610, 149.620 | [https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149/subpart-G](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149/subpart-G) | Current eCFR; uninsured/self-pay GFE and PPDR | Opened/read; $400/120-day rules verified. 10 |\n| **D012-S009** | Dispute a Medical Bill — CMS | [https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/get-help/dispute-bill](https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/get-help/dispute-bill) | Oct. 2, 2026 | Opened/read; consumer confirmation of $400 threshold. 39 |\n| **D012-S010** | EMTALA, 42 U.S.C. §1395dd — Congress/OLRC/GovInfo | §1395dd; medical screening, stabilization, transfer | Current federal statute | Opened/read. 3 |\n| **D012-S011** | 42 C.F.R. §489.24 — CMS | [https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-489/section-489.24](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-489/section-489.24) | Current eCFR | Opened/read. 40 |\n| **D012-S012** | EMTALA overview — CMS | CMS EMTALA current guidance, Mar. 10, 2026 | Federal agency guidance | Opened/read. 41 |\n| **D012-S013** | Hospital Price Transparency — CMS | CMS Hospital Price Transparency page; 45 C.F.R. Part 180 | Current Sept. 2026 guidance | Opened/read. 14 |\n| **D012-S014** | 29 C.F.R. §2560.503-1 — DOL | [https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XXV/subchapter-H/part-2560/section-2560.503-1](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XXV/subchapter-H/part-2560/section-2560.503-1) — appeal provisions | Current federal regulation | Opened/read; 180-day and decision periods verified. 7 |\n| **D012-S015** | 45 C.F.R. §147.136 — HHS | Current eCFR; internal claims and appeals/external review | Current federal regulation | Opened/read. 42 |\n| **D012-S016** | MHPAEA statute | 42 U.S.C. §300gg-26 / 29 U.S.C. §1185a, parity provisions | Current federal statute | Opened/read. 18 |\n| **D012-S017** | 2024 MHPAEA final-rule enforcement statement — DOL | DOL current litigation/enforcement statement | Current agency position; 2024 new-rule portions not presently enforced as described | Opened/read. 19 |\n| **D012-S018** | 42 C.F.R. §483.15 — CMS | [https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-483/section-483.15](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-483/section-483.15) — admissions/third-party guarantees | Current federal nursing-facility rule | Opened/read. 21 |\n| **D012-S019** | CFPB Circular 2022-05 | CFPB: Debt collection and consumer reporting practices involving nursing-home debts | Agency interpretation, not statute | Opened/read. 22 |\n| **D012-S020** | 42 U.S.C. §1396p — Congress/OLRC | [https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t42/s1396p/](https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t42/s1396p/) — estate recovery / transfers | Current federal Medicaid statute | Opened/read. 23 |\n| **D012-S021** | Regulation F §1006.34 — CFPB/eCFR | [https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-X/part-1006/section-1006.34](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-X/part-1006/section-1006.34) | Current federal regulation | Opened/read; validation procedures. 25 |\n| **D012-S022** | Regulation F §1006.26 — CFPB/eCFR | [https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-X/part-1006/section-1006.26](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-X/part-1006/section-1006.26) | Current federal regulation | Opened/read; time-barred legal-action prohibition. 26 |\n| **D012-S023** | 15 U.S.C. §§1692a, 1692f — Congress/OLRC | [https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1692a/](https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1692a/) and [https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1692f/](https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1692f/) | Current FDCPA | Opened/read. 4 |\n| **D012-S024** | FCRA/Regulation V compliance page — CFPB | [https://www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/compliance-resources/other-applicable-requirements/fair-credit-reporting-act/](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/compliance-resources/other-applicable-requirements/fair-credit-reporting-act/) — lines 29-48 | Modified June 1, 2026; current status | Opened/read. 5 |\n| **D012-S025** | Cornerstone Credit Union League v. CFPB — E.D. Tex. | GovInfo, E.D. Tex. No. 4:25-cv-00016, Memorandum Opinion and Order / judgment, July 11, 2025, final pages | Federal district-court order; rule vacated | Official PDF opened; relevant final pages visually checked. 28 |\n| **D012-S026** | 15 U.S.C. §1681c — Congress/OLRC/GovInfo | Special veteran-medical-debt provisions | Current FCRA | Opened/read. 29 |\n| **D012-S027** | CareCredit Credit Card Account Agreement — Synchrony Bank | [https://www.carecredit.com/YourTerms/](https://www.carecredit.com/YourTerms/) — rev. 3/2026, pp. 1-6 particularly pricing, minimum payments, promotions, standard provisions and billing rights | Actual issuer agreement; U.S. consumer credit card | Full 16-page PDF opened/searched; material pages visually checked. 6 |\n| **D012-S028** | 26 U.S.C. §§61, 108 — Congress/OLRC | [https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A61+edition%3Aprelim%29](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A61+edition%3Aprelim%29) and [https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A108+edition%3Aprelim%29](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A108+edition%3Aprelim%29) | Current preliminary U.S. Code text | Opened/read. 33 |\n| **D012-S029** | 11 U.S.C. §523 — Congress/OLRC | [https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A11+section%3A523+edition%3Aprelim%29](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A11+section%3A523+edition%3Aprelim%29) | Current Bankruptcy Code | Opened/read. 36 |\n| **D012-S030** | California medical-debt reporting alert — California DOJ | [https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/california-it-remains-illegal-medical-debt-appear-credit-reports-attorney](https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/california-it-remains-illegal-medical-debt-appear-credit-reports-attorney) | Nov. 13, 2025; current regulator position | Opened/read. 31 |\n| **D012-S031** | Cal. Civ. Code §1785.27 official Legislature URL | [https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1785.27](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1785.27). | California controlling statute | **Attempted but official server returned 403.** Not treated as opened primary support for detailed clause claims. 43 |\n| **D012-S032** | California H&S Code §127405 official Legislature URL | [https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=127405](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=127405). | California hospital charity law | **Attempted; 403.** Current secondary text discovered, but clause-level publication held pending primary access. 44 |\n| **D012-S033** | DMHC APL 24-010 / AB 716 — California DMHC | [https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/Portals/0/Docs/OPL/APL24-010CoverageofGroundAmbulanceServicesProvidedbyaNoncontractedProvider%286_13_2024%29.pdf](https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/Portals/0/Docs/OPL/APL24-010CoverageofGroundAmbulanceServicesProvidedbyaNoncontractedProvider%286_13_2024%29.pdf) | June 13, 2024; operative regulator guidance for stated plan scope | Official regulator PDF discovered/read; scope limitations expressly stated. 45 |\n| **D012-S034** | IHS Purchased/Referred Care — Indian Health Service | [https://www.ihs.gov/ihm/pc/part-2/chapter-3-purchased-referred-care/](https://www.ihs.gov/ihm/pc/part-2/chapter-3-purchased-referred-care/) and PRC fact sheets | Current federal Indian-health program guidance; cites 25 U.S.C. §1621u | Opened/read. 24 |\n| **D012-S035** | 25 U.S.C. §1621u / IHCIA liability-for-payment provision | U.S. Code Title 25, Ch. 18, §1621u | Federal Indian law | Statute identified through current U.S. Code/IHS materials; IHS operational interpretation opened. 46 |\n| **D012-S036** | CFPB medical-collection reporting changes | CFPB consumer/research material on nationwide CRA voluntary changes | Historical/current-practice evidence, not law | Opened/discovered; current three-bureau contractual policies not individually reverified. 30 |\n| **D012-S037** | §6050P reporting material — Treasury/IRS | 26 U.S.C. §6050P / Treasury materials describing $600 applicable-entity reporting rule | Federal tax reporting | Supporting Treasury material found; current eCFR clause not re-opened. Publication qualifier required. 35 |\n\n## Material claim register and coverage\n\n### Material claim register\n\n| Claim ID | Area | Precise claim | Source/pinpoint | Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| **D012-C001** | All | “Medical debt” has no single federal treatment; validity depends on creditor, service, payer, contract and jurisdiction. | S004-S008, S018-S023, S027 | Synthesis, not a statutory definition. |\n| **D012-C002** | Surprise bills | NSA protects most covered emergency care, qualifying non-emergency services at in-network hospital/HOPD/ASC, and air ambulance. | S005-S007; CMS lines 701-711, 764-784. 1 | Applicable private-plan scope only. |\n| **D012-C003** | Ambulance | Federal NSA generally excludes ground ambulance. | S005-S006; CMS lines 743-745, 793-797. 1 | State law may differ. |\n| **D012-C004** | Dental | NSA balance-billing protections generally do not apply to dental-only plans; may apply where dental benefits are within a health plan. | S005-S006, lines 799-803. 1 | Plan/setting-specific. |\n| **D012-C005** | Surprise bills | Notice/consent can waive some protections but is restricted by service and setting. | S006 lines 825-887; S007. 1 | Not valid for all services. |\n| **D012-C006** | Self-pay | GFE generally required on scheduling/request for qualifying uninsured/self-pay patients. | S008; CMS GFE guidance. 9 | Regulatory definitions apply. |\n| **D012-C007** | PPDR | Bill ≥$400 over provider/facility GFE may qualify; initiation generally within 120 calendar days of initial bill. | S008-S009. 10 | Other eligibility elements required. |\n| **D012-C008** | PPDR | PPDR has an administrative fee, but baseline-current dollar amount was not independently verified. | S008; older CMS material S009-related. 10 | **Unresolved current amount.** |\n| **D012-C009** | Charity | §501(r) applies to qualifying tax-exempt hospital organizations/facilities. | S001-S004. 2 | Not universal to all providers. |\n| **D012-C010** | Charity | FAP-eligible emergency/medically necessary care is limited to AGB; FAP may be more generous. | S003-S004. 15 | FAP eligibility and methodology control. |\n| **D012-C011** | Charity/collections | §501(r) requires reasonable efforts before ECAs; current regulation contains 30-day notice and 240-day application-period timing. | S004 §1.501(r)-6. 17 | Exact procedural branch matters. |\n| **D012-C012** | Emergency | EMTALA requires screening/stabilization/transfer duties without payment discrimination; it is not a free-care price statute. | S010-S012. 3 | “Not free care” is scope inference. |\n| **D012-C013** | Validity/insurance | Coverage adjudication can be appealed; provider invoice and insurer EOB are distinct documents. | S014-S015. 7 | Plan-specific. |\n| **D012-C014** | Insurance | Covered ERISA group plans must allow at least 180 days for appeal after adverse benefit determination. | S014. 7 | ERISA-plan scope/exemptions matter. |\n| **D012-C015** | Clinicians/rehab/MH | NSA protection turns substantially on setting and plan, not medical specialty label. | S006. 1 | Facility classification must be checked. |\n| **D012-C016** | Itemization | No universally applicable federal post-service itemized-bill right for every provider/private patient was verified. | S008, S013, S021 comparison. | **Evidence-limit finding; publication hold on broader assertion.** |\n| **D012-C017** | Price transparency | Hospital transparency includes machine-readable charges and ≥300 shoppable-services framework where applicable. | S013, 45 C.F.R. §180.60. 47 | Not a debt-cancellation rule. |\n| **D012-C018** | Charity/providers | Hospital FAP coverage of independent professionals must be checked; not all facility practitioners are necessarily covered. | S002-S004. 16 | Policy-specific. |\n| **D012-C019** | Charity | No single federal income threshold dictates §501(r) assistance eligibility. | S002-S004. | Hospital FAP/state law controls. |\n| **D012-C020** | Mental health | MHPAEA parity limits more restrictive MH/SUD financial requirements/treatment limitations where statute applies. | S016. 18 | Does not mean every plan must cover every service. |\n| **D012-C021** | Mental health | New portions of 2024 MHPAEA rule are under announced federal non-enforcement pending litigation plus stated period; statute/2013 rules continue. | S017. 19 | Status-sensitive; recheck before publication. |\n| **D012-C022** | Rehabilitation | No separate nationwide rehab-debt settlement regime identified; setting/payer rules govern. | S001, S006, S018. | State/program overlays possible. |\n| **D012-C023** | Nursing | Participating nursing facility cannot require third-party guarantee as admission/continued-stay condition; representative may agree to pay from resident assets without personal liability. | S018, 42 C.F.R. §483.15. 21 | Does not immunize independent wrongdoing. |\n| **D012-C024** | Nursing collections | CFPB says collecting invalid nursing-home guarantee debt can implicate FDCPA/FCRA. | S019. 22 | Agency interpretation. |\n| **D012-C025** | Collections | FDCPA “debt collector” generally differs from original creditor collecting in own name. | S023 §1692a. 4 | State laws can be broader. |\n| **D012-C026** | Collections | Timely written Reg F validation dispute triggers cease-until-verification protection. | S021. 25 | Covered collector and timely dispute required. |\n| **D012-C027** | Litigation | Reg F forbids covered collector from suing or threatening suit on time-barred debt. | S022. 26 | Bankruptcy proof-of-claim exception; SOL itself state-specific. |\n| **D012-C028** | Fees/interest | Collector may not add amount unless agreement expressly authorizes it or law permits it. | S023, 15 U.S.C. §1692f(1). 27 | Applies to FDCPA collector. |\n| **D012-C029** | Credit | CFPB 2025 Medical Debt Rule was vacated July 11, 2025; not operative at baseline. | S024-S025. 5 | State law may be stricter. |\n| **D012-C030** | Credit/veterans | FCRA has special one-year and paid/settled protections for qualifying veteran medical debt. | S026. 29 | Statutory veteran definition/conditions apply. |\n| **D012-C031** | California credit | CA DOJ says SB 1061 effective Jan. 1, 2025 prohibits medical debt from appearing on California credit reports. | S030; S031 primary text unavailable. 31 | Detailed statute clauses held pending official-code access. |\n| **D012-C032** | Medical card | CareCredit rev. 3/2026: 32.99% purchase APR, 39.99% penalty APR, ≥23-day due-date interval, disclosed fees. | S027 pp.1-2. 6 | Agreement-specific. |\n| **D012-C033** | Medical card | CareCredit daily-balance method; .09039% disclosed purchase daily rate. | S027 p.2. 6 | Agreement-specific. |\n| **D012-C034** | Medical card | Deferred-interest offers described at 6/12/18/24 months; failure to pay full promotional balance can trigger interest from purchase date. | S027 p.3. 6 | Offer availability/transaction terms vary. |\n| **D012-C035** | Medical card | Standard minimum formula = greatest of $30, 3.25%, or 1% + interest/late fees, plus other stated amounts. | S027 p.3. 6 | Special promo formulas can differ. |\n| **D012-C036** | Guarantors/card | Each approved CareCredit account holder is responsible for full amount under agreement. | S027 p.3. 6 | Contract-specific. |\n| **D012-C037** | California ambulance | DMHC AB 716 guidance caps covered noncontracted ground-ambulance enrollee liability at in-network cost sharing for stated regulated-plan scope. | S033. 12 | APL exclusions and ERISA/state-jurisdiction limits matter. |\n| **D012-C038** | LTC/Medicaid | §1396p mandates specified Medicaid estate recovery, including age-55+ rules and family protections. | S020. 23 | State implementation/hardship rules vary. |\n| **D012-C039** | IHS/PRC | IHS-approved PRC services carry no-patient-liability protection under cited federal law. | S034-S035. 24 | Authorization required. |\n| **D012-C040** | IHS/PRC | Referral alone does not necessarily constitute PRC payment authorization. | S034. 48 | Eligibility/funding/authorization rules apply. |\n| **D012-C041** | Settlement | No primary source supports universal medical-debt settlement percentages/timelines. | Entire source set | Creditor practice is individualized. |\n| **D012-C042** | Credit practice | Nationwide CRAs historically adopted voluntary paid/<$500 medical-collection removals; this is practice, not federal law. | S036. 30 | 2026 all-bureau policy text not reverified. |\n| **D012-C043** | Card disputes | CareCredit billing-error notice: written within 60 days; 30-day acknowledgment/90-day resolution framework in agreement notice. | S027 p.6. 6 | Agreement/FCBA conditions apply. |\n| **D012-C044** | Debt classification | Separate card financing creates issuer-contract debt distinct from provider receivable. | S027 | Underlying merchant defenses may survive under applicable law. |\n| **D012-C045** | Tax | §61 includes cancellation income; §108 provides specified exclusions, with no blanket medical-debt exclusion. | S028. 33 | Individual tax facts control. |\n| **D012-C046** | Tax | Insolvency measured immediately before discharge; exclusion limited to extent insolvent. | S028 §108(d)(3). 34 | Other §108 rules apply. |\n| **D012-C047** | Tax reporting | Treasury materials state applicable §6050P entities generally report covered cancellations of $600+. | S037. 35 | Current eCFR text needs final recheck before hard coding. |\n| **D012-C048** | Bankruptcy | No Bankruptcy Code category makes ordinary debt nondischargeable solely because it is medical. | S029 §523. 36 | Other §523 exceptions/chapter rules may apply. |\n| **D012-C049** | Collateral | No universal federal provider lien on ordinary patient assets identified; state lien/judgment law and Medicaid recovery are separate. | S020 + evidence review | 50-state lien matrix unresolved. |\n\n### Coverage table\n\n| Assigned subtopic | Status | What is answered | Claim refs | Missing evidence / next research action |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| **Hospitals** | **Answered — federal; state partial** | §501(r), NSA, EMTALA, price transparency, collections framework | C002, C009-C019 | 50-state hospital fair-pricing/collection matrix not completed. |\n| **Clinicians** | **Answered / partial** | NSA setting distinction, FAP provider coverage, collection rules | C015, C018, C025-C028 | State professional-fee billing statutes by profession. |\n| **Ambulance** | **Answered federal; California exemplar** | Air vs ground federal split; CA DMHC AB 716 | C003, C037 | 49-state/D.C. ground-ambulance balance-billing matrix; CA uninsured clause primary text. |\n| **Emergency** | **Answered** | EMTALA plus NSA emergency balance-billing framework | C002, C005, C012 | State emergency-billing laws not exhaustively surveyed. |\n| **Dental** | **Partial** | Dental-only NSA exception; ordinary office-setting limitation | C004, C015 | State dental billing/collection laws; individual dental-plan contracts. |\n| **Mental health** | **Answered federal / state partial** | MHPAEA statutory parity and 2024-rule enforcement status | C020-C021 | Full state parity and network-adequacy matrix. |\n| **Rehabilitation** | **Partial** | Classification by setting/payer; no separate federal debt regime identified | C015, C022 | IRF/SNF/home-health payer-specific debt pathways could support separate module. |\n| **Nursing / long-term care** | **Answered federal / state partial** | Third-party guarantee rule, CFPB interpretation, Medicaid estate recovery | C023-C024, C038 | State filial-responsibility, probate, facility-contract and estate-recovery matrix. |\n| **Insurance** | **Answered core federal** | ERISA/ACA appeals and adverse-benefit review | C013-C014 | Medicare/Medicaid/state external-review deadlines deserve separate payer table. |\n| **Itemization** | **Partial** | GFE, price transparency and validation distinguished | C006-C007, C016-C017 | Universal post-service itemized-bill proposition not verified; state/program research needed. |\n| **Charity assistance** | **Answered federal; state partial** | §501(r) FAP, AGB, ECAs, provider scope | C009-C011, C018-C019 | Current official CA §127405 text blocked; national state charity matrix absent. |\n| **Medical cards** | **Answered for CareCredit; market partial** | Complete 3/2026 Synchrony agreement, pricing, promo, payments, billing errors | C032-C036, C043-C044 | Other issuers/products not researched; state “medical debt” definition as applied to cards unresolved. |\n| **Surprise bills** | **Answered** | Federal settings/services, consent, self-pay PPDR | C002-C008 | State-specific additions beyond California remain open. |\n| **Collections** | **Answered federal** | Collector definition, validation, time-barred suits, added amounts | C025-C028 | Original-creditor state laws and licensing matrix needed. |\n| **Litigation** | **Partial** | Federal collector limit on time-barred litigation | C027 | State SOL, service, answer deadlines, exemptions, garnishment and judgment rules unresolved nationally. |\n| **Credit** | **Answered federal status; state partial** | CFPB-rule vacatur, veteran rule, CA ban, CRA practice distinction | C029-C031, C042 | Primary CA code access and nationwide current bureau-policy recheck. |\n| **Tax** | **Answered core federal / reporting partial** | COD income and insolvency | C045-C047 | Current §6050P regulation should be re-opened; state income-tax conformity not surveyed. |\n| **Collateral/liens** | **Partial** | Medicaid estate recovery distinguished; no universal federal provider lien found | C038, C049 | 50-state hospital/tort/judgment lien matrix. |\n| **Guarantors** | **Answered core federal/contract example** | Nursing admission guarantee restriction; joint CareCredit liability | C023, C036 | State guaranty, spouse-liability and necessaries doctrines remain open. |\n| **Debt validity** | **Answered framework / state partial** | Insurance, NSA, FAP, PRC, contract and collection validation pathways | C001, C006-C013, C026, C039-C040 | Underlying state contract/quantum-meruit rules not surveyed nationally. |\n| **Federal Indian-health / tribal** | **Partial** | Authorized PRC no-patient-liability rule | C039-C040 | Individual tribal codes/courts not surveyed; should not be characterized as nationwide “tribal law.” |\n\n## Publication opportunities, open questions and researcher self-check\n\n### Draft article, tool and document opportunities\n\n**Medical debt validity decision tree.** The strongest reusable tool is not a settlement-percentage calculator. It is a routing tool that first asks: provider debt or financing debt; insured or self-pay; hospital/office/ambulance/nursing facility; tax-exempt hospital or not; in-network/out-of-network; emergency or scheduled; GFE obtained; FAP application completed; collector or original creditor; lawsuit filed; state; and IHS/Medicaid/Medicare status. Those inputs map directly to the mutually different federal regimes verified above. 8\n\n**“Before settling a hospital bill” document checklist.** A publishable checklist can request EOBs, itemized/provider statements where available, FAP and application, FAP provider list, GFE, NSA consent form, network information, insurer appeal records, collector validation notice and card agreement. The article should expressly distinguish a request for itemization from a claimed universal legal right to it. [D012-C013, C016]\n\n**Surprise-bill checker.** A narrow tool can determine whether the service is emergency, non-emergency at a listed in-network facility, air ambulance, ground ambulance, ordinary office care, or dental-only coverage; whether a notice/consent was signed; and whether state law adds protection. CMS's 2026 pages are sufficiently current to support the federal branch logic. 1\n\n**§501(r) hospital-assistance worksheet.** Inputs should include hospital tax status, specific facility, service type, household/income inputs from the hospital's current FAP, dates of first post-discharge bill and collection notices, provider identity, and AGB method. It should never hard-code one national income threshold. 17\n\n**Medical-card deferred-interest warning calculator.** A CareCredit-specific version can display the current agreement APR, promotional deadline, balance remaining, daily-rate mechanics and the warning that minimum payments may not extinguish the promotional balance. It must version-lock the agreement because issuer terms can change. 6\n\n**Nursing-home family-liability document review.** A document tool can flag phrases such as “guarantee,” “personally liable,” “responsible party,” “resident representative,” and “access to resident funds,” then route for legal review rather than automatically declaring liability valid or invalid. The distinction tracks 42 C.F.R. §483.15. 21\n\n### Open questions and publication holds\n\nA **50-state medical-debt matrix** remains the largest gap. It should separately track hospital charity thresholds, collection waiting periods, interest caps, credit-reporting restrictions, ground-ambulance balance billing, medical-debt limitation periods, hospital/tort liens, spousal “necessaries” liability, filial-responsibility laws and state tax treatment. California findings here should not be projected onto another state.\n\nCalifornia **Civil Code §1785.27** and **Health & Safety Code §127405** should be reopened from the official Legislature site before publishing exact clause text, exceptions, remedies or current eligibility thresholds. The official code endpoint returned HTTP 403 during this research; the California Attorney General's current implementation statement is sufficient for the high-level credit-reporting finding but not a replacement for clause-level statutory review. 43\n\nThe current **PPDR patient administrative fee** should be reverified from the Secretary's applicable 2026 fee notice. Older CMS material says $25, but this report deliberately does not label that figure current as of October 22, 2026. 49\n\nThe **$600 Form 1099-C reporting rule** has substantial official support, but the baseline-current eCFR implementing provision should be reopened before the number is hard-coded. More importantly, receipt or nonreceipt of a Form 1099-C should never be equated mechanically with taxability; §61 and §108 govern the substantive income analysis. 35\n\nThe voluntary policies of **Equifax, Experian and TransUnion** should be rechecked from each bureau's current first-party documentation before publishing a statement that the paid-debt, under-$500 and waiting-period policies remain unchanged in October 2026. CFPB's historical documentation verifies the policy changes but not every bureau's current contractual practice. 30\n\nNo claim should be published that medical debt **“does not hurt your credit score,” “always comes off after settlement,” “settles for X%,” “must be deleted after payment,” “is always dischargeable,” “is tax-free,” or “cannot result in a lien.”** The verified primary sources do not support those universal propositions. 50\n\n### Researcher self-check\n\n**Verified from primary or first-party sources:** federal No Surprises Act consumer scope as of October 2026; federal ground-versus-air ambulance distinction; dental-only insurance exception; notice/consent limitations; GFE and PPDR $400/120-day rules; EMTALA screening/stabilization framework; §501(r) FAP/AGB/collection framework and relevant timing; Hospital Price Transparency framework; ERISA claim-appeal timing; MHPAEA statute and current federal enforcement posture for the 2024 rule; nursing-facility third-party guarantee restriction; Medicaid estate-recovery statute; FDCPA/Regulation F validation, amount and time-barred-litigation rules; current status of the vacated CFPB medical-debt rule; special veteran medical-debt reporting rule; the complete March 2026 CareCredit/Synchrony agreement; §61/§108 cancellation-of-debt framework; Bankruptcy Code §523; California DMHC ground-ambulance guidance; California DOJ's current medical-credit-reporting position; and IHS's current PRC no-patient-liability interpretation. 8\n\n**Verified as status, not universal outcome:** charity assistance can reduce or eliminate qualifying hospital balances, but no national FAP income threshold exists; insurance appeals can change patient liability, but no outcome is guaranteed; ordinary medical debts lack a medical-specific Bankruptcy Code exception, but other nondischargeability provisions remain possible; and debt cancellation can trigger federal income-tax analysis without implying every settlement produces taxable income. 51\n\n**Not fully verified and therefore held or qualified:** complete 50-state law; Nation-by-Nation tribal law; a universal post-service itemized-bill right; current 2026 PPDR fee dollar amount; current primary California statutory text where the Legislature server blocked access; all current nationwide CRA voluntary medical-debt policies; every medical-financing issuer agreement other than the reviewed CareCredit agreement; state limitation periods, garnishment/exemption rules, hospital liens, filial/spousal liability, and state cancellation-of-debt tax conformity; and the legal classification of every medical credit-card balance under every state's medical-debt reporting statute.\n\n**No unsupported universal settlement assumptions were adopted.** This research found no primary authority for a standard settlement percentage, settlement timeline, guaranteed credit-score result, guaranteed deletion, blanket tax exclusion, or universal collateral/guarantor rule for medical, dental or long-term-care debt. [D012-C041, C045, C049]\n\n","tables":[{"headers":["Input","Amount"],"index":0,"links":[],"rows":[["Input","Amount"],["Provider's good faith estimate","$2,200"],["Initial bill","$2,650"],["Difference","$450"]]},{"headers":["Tax input","Amount"],"index":1,"links":[],"rows":[["Tax input","Amount"],["Total liabilities","$28,000"],["Fair-market value of assets","$20,000"],["Insolvency","$8,000"],["Debt canceled","$10,000"]]},{"headers":["Debt form","First issue to test","Potential high-value alternative to settlement","Major failure case"],"index":2,"links":[],"rows":[["Debt form","First issue to test","Potential high-value alternative to settlement","Major failure case"],["Tax-exempt hospital balance","§501(r) FAP / AGB / ECA compliance","Charity or discounted care","Assuming every physician bill is covered by hospital FAP. \n16"],["Insured surprise bill","NSA setting, emergency status, network, consent","Reprocessing/complaint rather than compromise","Treating ground ambulance as federally protected. \n1"],["Self-pay provider bill","GFE and billed-versus-estimated amount","PPDR if ≥$400 threshold and timely","No GFE, missed 120-day initiation period, or wrong provider comparison. \n10"],["Dental office bill","Plan, provider contract, state law","Insurance appeal/provider adjustment","Assuming dental-only plan has full NSA protection. \n37"],["Nursing-home family-member demand","Who signed, capacity, resident assets, guarantee language","Challenge prohibited admission guarantee","Confusing representative duties with a lawful independent claim. \n21"],["IHS-authorized PRC bill","Was payment actually authorized?","No-patient-liability correction","Treating a referral as authorization. \n24"],["Medical credit card","Issuer agreement/promo/FCBA rights","Billing-error or merchant dispute where applicable","Treating card debt as identical to provider debt. \n6"],["Collector account","Collector status, validation, limitations","Validation / validity correction","Assuming FDCPA governs original creditor in every case. \n4"]]},{"headers":["ID","Source / issuer","Direct URL and pinpoint","Version / rule status / jurisdiction","Access and limits"],"index":3,"links":[{"href":"https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/requirements-for-501c3-hospitals-under-the-affordable-care-act-section-501r","text":"https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/requirements-for-501c3-hospitals-under-the-affordable-care-act-section-501r"},{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-26/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-1/subject-group-ECFR062882ac6495890","text":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-26/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-1/subject-group-ECFR062882ac6495890"},{"href":"https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights","text":"https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights"},{"href":"https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights/insurance","text":"https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights/insurance"},{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149","text":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149"},{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149/subpart-G","text":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149/subpart-G"},{"href":"https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/get-help/dispute-bill","text":"https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/get-help/dispute-bill"},{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-489/section-489.24","text":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-489/section-489.24"},{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XXV/subchapter-H/part-2560/section-2560.503-1","text":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XXV/subchapter-H/part-2560/section-2560.503-1"},{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-483/section-483.15","text":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-483/section-483.15"},{"href":"https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t42/s1396p/","text":"https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t42/s1396p/"},{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-X/part-1006/section-1006.34","text":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-X/part-1006/section-1006.34"},{"href":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-X/part-1006/section-1006.26","text":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-X/part-1006/section-1006.26"},{"href":"https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1692a/","text":"https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1692a/"},{"href":"https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1692f/","text":"https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1692f/"},{"href":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/compliance-resources/other-applicable-requirements/fair-credit-reporting-act/","text":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/compliance-resources/other-applicable-requirements/fair-credit-reporting-act/"},{"href":"https://www.carecredit.com/YourTerms/","text":"https://www.carecredit.com/YourTerms/"},{"href":"https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A61+edition%3Aprelim%29","text":"https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A61+edition%3Aprelim%29"},{"href":"https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A108+edition%3Aprelim%29","text":"https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A108+edition%3Aprelim%29"},{"href":"https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A11+section%3A523+edition%3Aprelim%29","text":"https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A11+section%3A523+edition%3Aprelim%29"},{"href":"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/california-it-remains-illegal-medical-debt-appear-credit-reports-attorney","text":"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/california-it-remains-illegal-medical-debt-appear-credit-reports-attorney"},{"href":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1785.27","text":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1785.27"},{"href":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=127405","text":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=127405"},{"href":"https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/Portals/0/Docs/OPL/APL24-010CoverageofGroundAmbulanceServicesProvidedbyaNoncontractedProvider%286_13_2024%29.pdf","text":"https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/Portals/0/Docs/OPL/APL24-010CoverageofGroundAmbulanceServicesProvidedbyaNoncontractedProvider%286_13_2024%29.pdf"},{"href":"https://www.ihs.gov/ihm/pc/part-2/chapter-3-purchased-referred-care/","text":"https://www.ihs.gov/ihm/pc/part-2/chapter-3-purchased-referred-care/"}],"rows":[["ID","Source / issuer","Direct URL and pinpoint","Version / rule status / jurisdiction","Access and limits"],["D012-S001","Requirements for §501(c)(3) Hospitals — IRS","https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/requirements-for-501c3-hospitals-under-the-affordable-care-act-section-501r — §501(r) overview","IRS page current July 2026; federal; operative","Opened/read. \n2"],["D012-S002","Financial Assistance Policy Requirements — IRS","IRS §501(r)(4) FAP guidance; emergency/medically necessary care and provider scope","Current IRS guidance; federal","Opened/read. \n16"],["D012-S003","Limitation on Charges — IRS / IRC §501(r)(5)","IRS §501(r)(5); AGB limitation and gross-charge rule","Current IRS guidance; federal","Opened/read. \n15"],["D012-S004","26 C.F.R. §§1.501(r)-1 through -6 — Treasury/IRS","https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-26/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-1/subject-group-ECFR062882ac6495890 — especially §§1.501(r)-4, -5, -6","Current eCFR; federal; final regulations","Opened/read; exact 30/240-day text verified. \n17"],["D012-S005","Know Your Medical Bill Rights — CMS","https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights — lines 684-742","Page modified Oct. 1, 2026; federal program guidance","Opened/read. \n37"],["D012-S006","Medical Bill Rights When Using Insurance — CMS","https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights/insurance — lines 699-870+","Current Oct. 2026; NSA implementation","Opened/read; verifies facility scope, ground ambulance, dental-only exception, notice/consent. \n1"],["D012-S007","45 C.F.R. Part 149, Subparts E/F","https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149 — §§149.410, 149.420","Current eCFR; federal","Opened/read in research. \n38"],["D012-S008","45 C.F.R. §§149.610, 149.620","https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149/subpart-G","Current eCFR; uninsured/self-pay GFE and PPDR","Opened/read; $400/120-day rules verified. \n10"],["D012-S009","Dispute a Medical Bill — CMS","https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/get-help/dispute-bill","Oct. 2, 2026","Opened/read; consumer confirmation of $400 threshold. \n39"],["D012-S010","EMTALA, 42 U.S.C. §1395dd — Congress/OLRC/GovInfo","§1395dd; medical screening, stabilization, transfer","Current federal statute","Opened/read. \n3"],["D012-S011","42 C.F.R. §489.24 — CMS","https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-489/section-489.24","Current eCFR","Opened/read. \n40"],["D012-S012","EMTALA overview — CMS","CMS EMTALA current guidance, Mar. 10, 2026","Federal agency guidance","Opened/read. \n41"],["D012-S013","Hospital Price Transparency — CMS","CMS Hospital Price Transparency page; 45 C.F.R. Part 180","Current Sept. 2026 guidance","Opened/read. \n14"],["D012-S014","29 C.F.R. §2560.503-1 — DOL","https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XXV/subchapter-H/part-2560/section-2560.503-1 — appeal provisions","Current federal regulation","Opened/read; 180-day and decision periods verified. \n7"],["D012-S015","45 C.F.R. §147.136 — HHS","Current eCFR; internal claims and appeals/external review","Current federal regulation","Opened/read. \n42"],["D012-S016","MHPAEA statute","42 U.S.C. §300gg-26 / 29 U.S.C. §1185a, parity provisions","Current federal statute","Opened/read. \n18"],["D012-S017","2024 MHPAEA final-rule enforcement statement — DOL","DOL current litigation/enforcement statement","Current agency position; 2024 new-rule portions not presently enforced as described","Opened/read. \n19"],["D012-S018","42 C.F.R. §483.15 — CMS","https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-483/section-483.15 — admissions/third-party guarantees","Current federal nursing-facility rule","Opened/read. \n21"],["D012-S019","CFPB Circular 2022-05","CFPB: Debt collection and consumer reporting practices involving nursing-home debts","Agency interpretation, not statute","Opened/read. \n22"],["D012-S020","42 U.S.C. §1396p — Congress/OLRC","https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t42/s1396p/ — estate recovery / transfers","Current federal Medicaid statute","Opened/read. \n23"],["D012-S021","Regulation F §1006.34 — CFPB/eCFR","https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-X/part-1006/section-1006.34","Current federal regulation","Opened/read; validation procedures. \n25"],["D012-S022","Regulation F §1006.26 — CFPB/eCFR","https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-X/part-1006/section-1006.26","Current federal regulation","Opened/read; time-barred legal-action prohibition. \n26"],["D012-S023","15 U.S.C. §§1692a, 1692f — Congress/OLRC","https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1692a/ and https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1692f/","Current FDCPA","Opened/read. \n4"],["D012-S024","FCRA/Regulation V compliance page — CFPB","https://www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/compliance-resources/other-applicable-requirements/fair-credit-reporting-act/ — lines 29-48","Modified June 1, 2026; current status","Opened/read. \n5"],["D012-S025","Cornerstone Credit Union League v. CFPB — E.D. Tex.","GovInfo, E.D. Tex. No. 4:25-cv-00016, Memorandum Opinion and Order / judgment, July 11, 2025, final pages","Federal district-court order; rule vacated","Official PDF opened; relevant final pages visually checked. \n28"],["D012-S026","15 U.S.C. §1681c — Congress/OLRC/GovInfo","Special veteran-medical-debt provisions","Current FCRA","Opened/read. \n29"],["D012-S027","CareCredit Credit Card Account Agreement — Synchrony Bank","https://www.carecredit.com/YourTerms/ — rev. 3/2026, pp. 1-6 particularly pricing, minimum payments, promotions, standard provisions and billing rights","Actual issuer agreement; U.S. consumer credit card","Full 16-page PDF opened/searched; material pages visually checked. \n6"],["D012-S028","26 U.S.C. §§61, 108 — Congress/OLRC","https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A61+edition%3Aprelim%29 and https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A108+edition%3Aprelim%29","Current preliminary U.S. Code text","Opened/read. \n33"],["D012-S029","11 U.S.C. §523 — Congress/OLRC","https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A11+section%3A523+edition%3Aprelim%29","Current Bankruptcy Code","Opened/read. \n36"],["D012-S030","California medical-debt reporting alert — California DOJ","https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/california-it-remains-illegal-medical-debt-appear-credit-reports-attorney","Nov. 13, 2025; current regulator position","Opened/read. \n31"],["D012-S031","Cal. Civ. Code §1785.27 official Legislature URL","https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1785.27.","California controlling statute","Attempted but official server returned 403. Not treated as opened primary support for detailed clause claims. \n43"],["D012-S032","California H&S Code §127405 official Legislature URL","https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=127405.","California hospital charity law","Attempted; 403. Current secondary text discovered, but clause-level publication held pending primary access. \n44"],["D012-S033","DMHC APL 24-010 / AB 716 — California DMHC","https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/Portals/0/Docs/OPL/APL24-010CoverageofGroundAmbulanceServicesProvidedbyaNoncontractedProvider%286_13_2024%29.pdf","June 13, 2024; operative regulator guidance for stated plan scope","Official regulator PDF discovered/read; scope limitations expressly stated. \n45"],["D012-S034","IHS Purchased/Referred Care — Indian Health Service","https://www.ihs.gov/ihm/pc/part-2/chapter-3-purchased-referred-care/ and PRC fact sheets","Current federal Indian-health program guidance; cites 25 U.S.C. §1621u","Opened/read. \n24"],["D012-S035","25 U.S.C. §1621u / IHCIA liability-for-payment provision","U.S. Code Title 25, Ch. 18, §1621u","Federal Indian law","Statute identified through current U.S. Code/IHS materials; IHS operational interpretation opened. \n46"],["D012-S036","CFPB medical-collection reporting changes","CFPB consumer/research material on nationwide CRA voluntary changes","Historical/current-practice evidence, not law","Opened/discovered; current three-bureau contractual policies not individually reverified. \n30"],["D012-S037","§6050P reporting material — Treasury/IRS","26 U.S.C. §6050P / Treasury materials describing $600 applicable-entity reporting rule","Federal tax reporting","Supporting Treasury material found; current eCFR clause not re-opened. Publication qualifier required. \n35"]]},{"headers":["Claim ID","Area","Precise claim","Source/pinpoint","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit"],"index":4,"links":[],"rows":[["Claim ID","Area","Precise claim","Source/pinpoint","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit"],["D012-C001","All","“Medical debt” has no single federal treatment; validity depends on creditor, service, payer, contract and jurisdiction.","S004-S008, S018-S023, S027","Synthesis, not a statutory definition."],["D012-C002","Surprise bills","NSA protects most covered emergency care, qualifying non-emergency services at in-network hospital/HOPD/ASC, and air ambulance.","S005-S007; CMS lines 701-711, 764-784. \n1","Applicable private-plan scope only."],["D012-C003","Ambulance","Federal NSA generally excludes ground ambulance.","S005-S006; CMS lines 743-745, 793-797. \n1","State law may differ."],["D012-C004","Dental","NSA balance-billing protections generally do not apply to dental-only plans; may apply where dental benefits are within a health plan.","S005-S006, lines 799-803. \n1","Plan/setting-specific."],["D012-C005","Surprise bills","Notice/consent can waive some protections but is restricted by service and setting.","S006 lines 825-887; S007. \n1","Not valid for all services."],["D012-C006","Self-pay","GFE generally required on scheduling/request for qualifying uninsured/self-pay patients.","S008; CMS GFE guidance. \n9","Regulatory definitions apply."],["D012-C007","PPDR","Bill ≥$400 over provider/facility GFE may qualify; initiation generally within 120 calendar days of initial bill.","S008-S009. \n10","Other eligibility elements required."],["D012-C008","PPDR","PPDR has an administrative fee, but baseline-current dollar amount was not independently verified.","S008; older CMS material S009-related. \n10","Unresolved current amount."],["D012-C009","Charity","§501(r) applies to qualifying tax-exempt hospital organizations/facilities.","S001-S004. \n2","Not universal to all providers."],["D012-C010","Charity","FAP-eligible emergency/medically necessary care is limited to AGB; FAP may be more generous.","S003-S004. \n15","FAP eligibility and methodology control."],["D012-C011","Charity/collections","§501(r) requires reasonable efforts before ECAs; current regulation contains 30-day notice and 240-day application-period timing.","S004 §1.501(r)-6. \n17","Exact procedural branch matters."],["D012-C012","Emergency","EMTALA requires screening/stabilization/transfer duties without payment discrimination; it is not a free-care price statute.","S010-S012. \n3","“Not free care” is scope inference."],["D012-C013","Validity/insurance","Coverage adjudication can be appealed; provider invoice and insurer EOB are distinct documents.","S014-S015. \n7","Plan-specific."],["D012-C014","Insurance","Covered ERISA group plans must allow at least 180 days for appeal after adverse benefit determination.","S014. \n7","ERISA-plan scope/exemptions matter."],["D012-C015","Clinicians/rehab/MH","NSA protection turns substantially on setting and plan, not medical specialty label.","S006. \n1","Facility classification must be checked."],["D012-C016","Itemization","No universally applicable federal post-service itemized-bill right for every provider/private patient was verified.","S008, S013, S021 comparison.","Evidence-limit finding; publication hold on broader assertion."],["D012-C017","Price transparency","Hospital transparency includes machine-readable charges and ≥300 shoppable-services framework where applicable.","S013, 45 C.F.R. §180.60. \n47","Not a debt-cancellation rule."],["D012-C018","Charity/providers","Hospital FAP coverage of independent professionals must be checked; not all facility practitioners are necessarily covered.","S002-S004. \n16","Policy-specific."],["D012-C019","Charity","No single federal income threshold dictates §501(r) assistance eligibility.","S002-S004.","Hospital FAP/state law controls."],["D012-C020","Mental health","MHPAEA parity limits more restrictive MH/SUD financial requirements/treatment limitations where statute applies.","S016. \n18","Does not mean every plan must cover every service."],["D012-C021","Mental health","New portions of 2024 MHPAEA rule are under announced federal non-enforcement pending litigation plus stated period; statute/2013 rules continue.","S017. \n19","Status-sensitive; recheck before publication."],["D012-C022","Rehabilitation","No separate nationwide rehab-debt settlement regime identified; setting/payer rules govern.","S001, S006, S018.","State/program overlays possible."],["D012-C023","Nursing","Participating nursing facility cannot require third-party guarantee as admission/continued-stay condition; representative may agree to pay from resident assets without personal liability.","S018, 42 C.F.R. §483.15. \n21","Does not immunize independent wrongdoing."],["D012-C024","Nursing collections","CFPB says collecting invalid nursing-home guarantee debt can implicate FDCPA/FCRA.","S019. \n22","Agency interpretation."],["D012-C025","Collections","FDCPA “debt collector” generally differs from original creditor collecting in own name.","S023 §1692a. \n4","State laws can be broader."],["D012-C026","Collections","Timely written Reg F validation dispute triggers cease-until-verification protection.","S021. \n25","Covered collector and timely dispute required."],["D012-C027","Litigation","Reg F forbids covered collector from suing or threatening suit on time-barred debt.","S022. \n26","Bankruptcy proof-of-claim exception; SOL itself state-specific."],["D012-C028","Fees/interest","Collector may not add amount unless agreement expressly authorizes it or law permits it.","S023, 15 U.S.C. §1692f(1). \n27","Applies to FDCPA collector."],["D012-C029","Credit","CFPB 2025 Medical Debt Rule was vacated July 11, 2025; not operative at baseline.","S024-S025. \n5","State law may be stricter."],["D012-C030","Credit/veterans","FCRA has special one-year and paid/settled protections for qualifying veteran medical debt.","S026. \n29","Statutory veteran definition/conditions apply."],["D012-C031","California credit","CA DOJ says SB 1061 effective Jan. 1, 2025 prohibits medical debt from appearing on California credit reports.","S030; S031 primary text unavailable. \n31","Detailed statute clauses held pending official-code access."],["D012-C032","Medical card","CareCredit rev. 3/2026: 32.99% purchase APR, 39.99% penalty APR, ≥23-day due-date interval, disclosed fees.","S027 pp.1-2. \n6","Agreement-specific."],["D012-C033","Medical card","CareCredit daily-balance method; .09039% disclosed purchase daily rate.","S027 p.2. \n6","Agreement-specific."],["D012-C034","Medical card","Deferred-interest offers described at 6/12/18/24 months; failure to pay full promotional balance can trigger interest from purchase date.","S027 p.3. \n6","Offer availability/transaction terms vary."],["D012-C035","Medical card","Standard minimum formula = greatest of $30, 3.25%, or 1% + interest/late fees, plus other stated amounts.","S027 p.3. \n6","Special promo formulas can differ."],["D012-C036","Guarantors/card","Each approved CareCredit account holder is responsible for full amount under agreement.","S027 p.3. \n6","Contract-specific."],["D012-C037","California ambulance","DMHC AB 716 guidance caps covered noncontracted ground-ambulance enrollee liability at in-network cost sharing for stated regulated-plan scope.","S033. \n12","APL exclusions and ERISA/state-jurisdiction limits matter."],["D012-C038","LTC/Medicaid","§1396p mandates specified Medicaid estate recovery, including age-55+ rules and family protections.","S020. \n23","State implementation/hardship rules vary."],["D012-C039","IHS/PRC","IHS-approved PRC services carry no-patient-liability protection under cited federal law.","S034-S035. \n24","Authorization required."],["D012-C040","IHS/PRC","Referral alone does not necessarily constitute PRC payment authorization.","S034. \n48","Eligibility/funding/authorization rules apply."],["D012-C041","Settlement","No primary source supports universal medical-debt settlement percentages/timelines.","Entire source set","Creditor practice is individualized."],["D012-C042","Credit practice","Nationwide CRAs historically adopted voluntary paid/<$500 medical-collection removals; this is practice, not federal law.","S036. \n30","2026 all-bureau policy text not reverified."],["D012-C043","Card disputes","CareCredit billing-error notice: written within 60 days; 30-day acknowledgment/90-day resolution framework in agreement notice.","S027 p.6. \n6","Agreement/FCBA conditions apply."],["D012-C044","Debt classification","Separate card financing creates issuer-contract debt distinct from provider receivable.","S027","Underlying merchant defenses may survive under applicable law."],["D012-C045","Tax","§61 includes cancellation income; §108 provides specified exclusions, with no blanket medical-debt exclusion.","S028. \n33","Individual tax facts control."],["D012-C046","Tax","Insolvency measured immediately before discharge; exclusion limited to extent insolvent.","S028 §108(d)(3). \n34","Other §108 rules apply."],["D012-C047","Tax reporting","Treasury materials state applicable §6050P entities generally report covered cancellations of $600+.","S037. \n35","Current eCFR text needs final recheck before hard coding."],["D012-C048","Bankruptcy","No Bankruptcy Code category makes ordinary debt nondischargeable solely because it is medical.","S029 §523. \n36","Other §523 exceptions/chapter rules may apply."],["D012-C049","Collateral","No universal federal provider lien on ordinary patient assets identified; state lien/judgment law and Medicaid recovery are separate.","S020 + evidence review","50-state lien matrix unresolved."]]},{"headers":["Assigned subtopic","Status","What is answered","Claim refs","Missing evidence / next research action"],"index":5,"links":[],"rows":[["Assigned subtopic","Status","What is answered","Claim refs","Missing evidence / next research action"],["Hospitals","Answered — federal; state partial","§501(r), NSA, EMTALA, price transparency, collections framework","C002, C009-C019","50-state hospital fair-pricing/collection matrix not completed."],["Clinicians","Answered / partial","NSA setting distinction, FAP provider coverage, collection rules","C015, C018, C025-C028","State professional-fee billing statutes by profession."],["Ambulance","Answered federal; California exemplar","Air vs ground federal split; CA DMHC AB 716","C003, C037","49-state/D.C. ground-ambulance balance-billing matrix; CA uninsured clause primary text."],["Emergency","Answered","EMTALA plus NSA emergency balance-billing framework","C002, C005, C012","State emergency-billing laws not exhaustively surveyed."],["Dental","Partial","Dental-only NSA exception; ordinary office-setting limitation","C004, C015","State dental billing/collection laws; individual dental-plan contracts."],["Mental health","Answered federal / state partial","MHPAEA statutory parity and 2024-rule enforcement status","C020-C021","Full state parity and network-adequacy matrix."],["Rehabilitation","Partial","Classification by setting/payer; no separate federal debt regime identified","C015, C022","IRF/SNF/home-health payer-specific debt pathways could support separate module."],["Nursing / long-term care","Answered federal / state partial","Third-party guarantee rule, CFPB interpretation, Medicaid estate recovery","C023-C024, C038","State filial-responsibility, probate, facility-contract and estate-recovery matrix."],["Insurance","Answered core federal","ERISA/ACA appeals and adverse-benefit review","C013-C014","Medicare/Medicaid/state external-review deadlines deserve separate payer table."],["Itemization","Partial","GFE, price transparency and validation distinguished","C006-C007, C016-C017","Universal post-service itemized-bill proposition not verified; state/program research needed."],["Charity assistance","Answered federal; state partial","§501(r) FAP, AGB, ECAs, provider scope","C009-C011, C018-C019","Current official CA §127405 text blocked; national state charity matrix absent."],["Medical cards","Answered for CareCredit; market partial","Complete 3/2026 Synchrony agreement, pricing, promo, payments, billing errors","C032-C036, C043-C044","Other issuers/products not researched; state “medical debt” definition as applied to cards unresolved."],["Surprise bills","Answered","Federal settings/services, consent, self-pay PPDR","C002-C008","State-specific additions beyond California remain open."],["Collections","Answered federal","Collector definition, validation, time-barred suits, added amounts","C025-C028","Original-creditor state laws and licensing matrix needed."],["Litigation","Partial","Federal collector limit on time-barred litigation","C027","State SOL, service, answer deadlines, exemptions, garnishment and judgment rules unresolved nationally."],["Credit","Answered federal status; state partial","CFPB-rule vacatur, veteran rule, CA ban, CRA practice distinction","C029-C031, C042","Primary CA code access and nationwide current bureau-policy recheck."],["Tax","Answered core federal / reporting partial","COD income and insolvency","C045-C047","Current §6050P regulation should be re-opened; state income-tax conformity not surveyed."],["Collateral/liens","Partial","Medicaid estate recovery distinguished; no universal federal provider lien found","C038, C049","50-state hospital/tort/judgment lien matrix."],["Guarantors","Answered core federal/contract example","Nursing admission guarantee restriction; joint CareCredit liability","C023, C036","State guaranty, spouse-liability and necessaries doctrines remain open."],["Debt validity","Answered framework / state partial","Insurance, NSA, FAP, PRC, contract and collection validation pathways","C001, C006-C013, C026, C039-C040","Underlying state contract/quantum-meruit rules not surveyed nationally."],["Federal Indian-health / tribal","Partial","Authorized PRC no-patient-liability rule","C039-C040","Individual tribal codes/courts not surveyed; should not be characterized as nationwide “tribal law.”"]]}],"claims":[{"claim_id":"D012-C001","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C001","Area":"All","Precise claim":"“Medical debt” has no single federal treatment; validity depends on creditor, service, payer, contract and jurisdiction.","Source/pinpoint":"S004-S008, S018-S023, S027","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Synthesis, not a statutory definition."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C002","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C002","Area":"Surprise bills","Precise claim":"NSA protects most covered emergency care, qualifying non-emergency services at in-network hospital/HOPD/ASC, and air ambulance.","Source/pinpoint":"S005-S007; CMS lines 701-711, 764-784. \n1","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Applicable private-plan scope only."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_support_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","coordinator_note":"Selected agency passages support covered settings and plan limits, ground-ambulance exception and dental-only distinction. No fresh statutory/regulatory authentication of all notice/consent conditions."},{"claim_id":"D012-C003","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C003","Area":"Ambulance","Precise claim":"Federal NSA generally excludes ground ambulance.","Source/pinpoint":"S005-S006; CMS lines 743-745, 793-797. \n1","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"State law may differ."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_support_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","coordinator_note":"Selected agency passages support covered settings and plan limits, ground-ambulance exception and dental-only distinction. No fresh statutory/regulatory authentication of all notice/consent conditions."},{"claim_id":"D012-C004","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C004","Area":"Dental","Precise claim":"NSA balance-billing protections generally do not apply to dental-only plans; may apply where dental benefits are within a health plan.","Source/pinpoint":"S005-S006, lines 799-803. \n1","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Plan/setting-specific."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_support_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","coordinator_note":"Selected agency passages support covered settings and plan limits, ground-ambulance exception and dental-only distinction. No fresh statutory/regulatory authentication of all notice/consent conditions."},{"claim_id":"D012-C005","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C005","Area":"Surprise bills","Precise claim":"Notice/consent can waive some protections but is restricted by service and setting.","Source/pinpoint":"S006 lines 825-887; S007. \n1","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Not valid for all services."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C006","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C006","Area":"Self-pay","Precise claim":"GFE generally required on scheduling/request for qualifying uninsured/self-pay patients.","Source/pinpoint":"S008; CMS GFE guidance. \n9","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Regulatory definitions apply."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C007","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C007","Area":"PPDR","Precise claim":"Bill ≥$400 over provider/facility GFE may qualify; initiation generally within 120 calendar days of initial bill.","Source/pinpoint":"S008-S009. \n10","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Other eligibility elements required."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_support_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","coordinator_note":"CMS currently lists $25 nonrefundable administrative fee, favorable-decision credit and at-least-$12.50 settlement reduction; threshold is at least$400 over the individual provider/facility estimate and other eligibility requirements apply. 120-calendar-day initial-bill date wording. C008 current fee gap can be closed at agency-page level; underlying rule and special cases remain held."},{"claim_id":"D012-C008","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C008","Area":"PPDR","Precise claim":"PPDR has an administrative fee, but baseline-current dollar amount was not independently verified.","Source/pinpoint":"S008; older CMS material S009-related. \n10","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Unresolved current amount."},"coordinator_verification_status":"current_fee_gap_resolved_at_agency_page_level_replacement_needed","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","coordinator_note":"CMS currently lists $25 nonrefundable administrative fee, favorable-decision credit and at-least-$12.50 settlement reduction; threshold is at least$400 over the individual provider/facility estimate and other eligibility requirements apply. 120-calendar-day initial-bill date wording. C008 current fee gap can be closed at agency-page level; underlying rule and special cases remain held."},{"claim_id":"D012-C009","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C009","Area":"Charity","Precise claim":"§501(r) applies to qualifying tax-exempt hospital organizations/facilities.","Source/pinpoint":"S001-S004. \n2","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Not universal to all providers."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_support_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","coordinator_note":"Facility-level requirements for qualifying 501(c)(3) hospital organizations; not universal provider law."},{"claim_id":"D012-C010","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C010","Area":"Charity","Precise claim":"FAP-eligible emergency/medically necessary care is limited to AGB; FAP may be more generous.","Source/pinpoint":"S003-S004. \n15","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"FAP eligibility and methodology control."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_support_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","coordinator_note":"AGB cap applies to FAP-eligible emergency/medically necessary care; other FAP-covered care is below gross charges. Methodology and eligibility remain case-specific. Recovers missing URL, not original access proof."},{"claim_id":"D012-C011","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C011","Area":"Charity/collections","Precise claim":"§501(r) requires reasonable efforts before ECAs; current regulation contains 30-day notice and 240-day application-period timing.","Source/pinpoint":"S004 §1.501(r)-6. \n17","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Exact procedural branch matters."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_support_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","coordinator_note":"Agency summary supports 120-day notification, 240-day application baseline, 30-day notice branch and suspension on complete application. Does not freshly authenticate every regulatory branch of S004."},{"claim_id":"D012-C012","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C012","Area":"Emergency","Precise claim":"EMTALA requires screening/stabilization/transfer duties without payment discrimination; it is not a free-care price statute.","Source/pinpoint":"S010-S012. \n3","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"“Not free care” is scope inference."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_primary_or_agency_scope_checked_regulatory_or_individual_application_held","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T02:54:23.261891+00:00","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"D012-C013","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C013","Area":"Validity/insurance","Precise claim":"Coverage adjudication can be appealed; provider invoice and insurer EOB are distinct documents.","Source/pinpoint":"S014-S015. \n7","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Plan-specific."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C014","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C014","Area":"Insurance","Precise claim":"Covered ERISA group plans must allow at least 180 days for appeal after adverse benefit determination.","Source/pinpoint":"S014. \n7","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"ERISA-plan scope/exemptions matter."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C015","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C015","Area":"Clinicians/rehab/MH","Precise claim":"NSA protection turns substantially on setting and plan, not medical specialty label.","Source/pinpoint":"S006. \n1","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Facility classification must be checked."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C016","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C016","Area":"Itemization","Precise claim":"No universally applicable federal post-service itemized-bill right for every provider/private patient was verified.","Source/pinpoint":"S008, S013, S021 comparison.","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Evidence-limit finding; publication hold on broader assertion."},"coordinator_verification_status":"held_for_universal_negative_claim_beyond_examined_sources","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T02:54:23.261891+00:00","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"D012-C017","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C017","Area":"Price transparency","Precise claim":"Hospital transparency includes machine-readable charges and ≥300 shoppable-services framework where applicable.","Source/pinpoint":"S013, 45 C.F.R. §180.60. \n47","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Not a debt-cancellation rule."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_primary_or_agency_scope_checked_regulatory_or_individual_application_held","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T02:54:23.261891+00:00","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"D012-C018","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C018","Area":"Charity/providers","Precise claim":"Hospital FAP coverage of independent professionals must be checked; not all facility practitioners are necessarily covered.","Source/pinpoint":"S002-S004. \n16","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Policy-specific."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_support_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","coordinator_note":"FAP scope includes emergency/medically necessary care and substantially related entities; listed providers indicate coverage. Policy-specific eligibility. Recovers missing direct URL through coordinator browsing, not original researcher access proof."},{"claim_id":"D012-C019","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C019","Area":"Charity","Precise claim":"No single federal income threshold dictates §501(r) assistance eligibility.","Source/pinpoint":"S002-S004.","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Hospital FAP/state law controls."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C020","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C020","Area":"Mental health","Precise claim":"MHPAEA parity limits more restrictive MH/SUD financial requirements/treatment limitations where statute applies.","Source/pinpoint":"S016. \n18","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Does not mean every plan must cover every service."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C021","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C021","Area":"Mental health","Precise claim":"New portions of 2024 MHPAEA rule are under announced federal non-enforcement pending litigation plus stated period; statute/2013 rules continue.","Source/pinpoint":"S017. \n19","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Status-sensitive; recheck before publication."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C022","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C022","Area":"Rehabilitation","Precise claim":"No separate nationwide rehab-debt settlement regime identified; setting/payer rules govern.","Source/pinpoint":"S001, S006, S018.","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"State/program overlays possible."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C023","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C023","Area":"Nursing","Precise claim":"Participating nursing facility cannot require third-party guarantee as admission/continued-stay condition; representative may agree to pay from resident assets without personal liability.","Source/pinpoint":"S018, 42 C.F.R. §483.15. \n21","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Does not immunize independent wrongdoing."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C024","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C024","Area":"Nursing collections","Precise claim":"CFPB says collecting invalid nursing-home guarantee debt can implicate FDCPA/FCRA.","Source/pinpoint":"S019. \n22","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Agency interpretation."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C025","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C025","Area":"Collections","Precise claim":"FDCPA “debt collector” generally differs from original creditor collecting in own name.","Source/pinpoint":"S023 §1692a. \n4","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"State laws can be broader."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C026","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C026","Area":"Collections","Precise claim":"Timely written Reg F validation dispute triggers cease-until-verification protection.","Source/pinpoint":"S021. \n25","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Covered collector and timely dispute required."},"coordinator_verification_status":"historical_wording_superseded_by_reviewed_validation05_factual_delivery_state_application_held","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T01:35:40.229476+00:00","coordinator_note":"Baseline supported by34(c)(3)(i); add operative38(d)(2) duplicative-dispute branch and exact38source. No general original-creditor or state-law expansion.","coordinator_review":"[internal evidence reference]","effective_correction":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"D012-C027","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C027","Area":"Litigation","Precise claim":"Reg F forbids covered collector from suing or threatening suit on time-barred debt.","Source/pinpoint":"S022. \n26","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Bankruptcy proof-of-claim exception; SOL itself state-specific."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_primary_text_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T01:35:40.229476+00:00","coordinator_note":"26(a)-(b) matches selected claim including bankruptcy proof-of-claim exception; state limitation/revival facts remain held."},{"claim_id":"D012-C028","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C028","Area":"Fees/interest","Precise claim":"Collector may not add amount unless agreement expressly authorizes it or law permits it.","Source/pinpoint":"S023, 15 U.S.C. §1692f(1). \n27","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Applies to FDCPA collector."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C029","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C029","Area":"Credit","Precise claim":"CFPB 2025 Medical Debt Rule was vacated July 11, 2025; not operative at baseline.","Source/pinpoint":"S024-S025. \n5","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"State law may be stricter."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C030","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C030","Area":"Credit/veterans","Precise claim":"FCRA has special one-year and paid/settled protections for qualifying veteran medical debt.","Source/pinpoint":"S026. \n29","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Statutory veteran definition/conditions apply."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C031","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C031","Area":"California credit","Precise claim":"CA DOJ says SB 1061 effective Jan. 1, 2025 prohibits medical debt from appearing on California credit reports.","Source/pinpoint":"S030; S031 primary text unavailable. \n31","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Detailed statute clauses held pending official-code access."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C032","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C032","Area":"Medical card","Precise claim":"CareCredit rev. 3/2026: 32.99% purchase APR, 39.99% penalty APR, ≥23-day due-date interval, disclosed fees.","Source/pinpoint":"S027 pp.1-2. \n6","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Agreement-specific."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_published_contract_passages_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T01:34:28.302695+00:00","coordinator_note":"Selected current published contract passages checked; borrower-specific terms, variants, statutory overlays and enforceability remain held. Penalty-condition detail is recorded in the linked review."},{"claim_id":"D012-C033","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C033","Area":"Medical card","Precise claim":"CareCredit daily-balance method; .09039% disclosed purchase daily rate.","Source/pinpoint":"S027 p.2. \n6","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Agreement-specific."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_published_contract_passages_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T01:34:28.302695+00:00","coordinator_note":"Selected current published contract passages checked; borrower-specific terms, variants, statutory overlays and enforceability remain held. Penalty-condition detail is recorded in the linked review."},{"claim_id":"D012-C034","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C034","Area":"Medical card","Precise claim":"Deferred-interest offers described at 6/12/18/24 months; failure to pay full promotional balance can trigger interest from purchase date.","Source/pinpoint":"S027 p.3. \n6","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Offer availability/transaction terms vary."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_published_contract_passages_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T01:34:28.302695+00:00","coordinator_note":"Selected current published contract passages checked; borrower-specific terms, variants, statutory overlays and enforceability remain held. Penalty-condition detail is recorded in the linked review."},{"claim_id":"D012-C035","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C035","Area":"Medical card","Precise claim":"Standard minimum formula = greatest of $30, 3.25%, or 1% + interest/late fees, plus other stated amounts.","Source/pinpoint":"S027 p.3. \n6","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Special promo formulas can differ."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_published_contract_passages_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T01:34:28.302695+00:00","coordinator_note":"Selected current published contract passages checked; borrower-specific terms, variants, statutory overlays and enforceability remain held. Penalty-condition detail is recorded in the linked review."},{"claim_id":"D012-C036","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C036","Area":"Guarantors/card","Precise claim":"Each approved CareCredit account holder is responsible for full amount under agreement.","Source/pinpoint":"S027 p.3. \n6","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Contract-specific."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_published_contract_passages_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T01:34:28.302695+00:00","coordinator_note":"Selected current published contract passages checked; borrower-specific terms, variants, statutory overlays and enforceability remain held. Penalty-condition detail is recorded in the linked review."},{"claim_id":"D012-C037","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C037","Area":"California ambulance","Precise claim":"DMHC AB 716 guidance caps covered noncontracted ground-ambulance enrollee liability at in-network cost sharing for stated regulated-plan scope.","Source/pinpoint":"S033. \n12","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"APL exclusions and ERISA/state-jurisdiction limits matter."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C038","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C038","Area":"LTC/Medicaid","Precise claim":"§1396p mandates specified Medicaid estate recovery, including age-55+ rules and family protections.","Source/pinpoint":"S020. \n23","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"State implementation/hardship rules vary."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C039","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C039","Area":"IHS/PRC","Precise claim":"IHS-approved PRC services carry no-patient-liability protection under cited federal law.","Source/pinpoint":"S034-S035. \n24","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Authorization required."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_framework_supported_primary_statutory_text_and_application_held","coordinator_review":{"checked_at":"2026-10-23T04:14:07.730633+00:00","review":"[internal evidence reference]","evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","scope":"Agency authorization/referral/paymentliability and process distinction only. Statute opens failed; no full currentregulation, tribeagreement or individualdecision certification.","area_acceptance":false}},{"claim_id":"D012-C040","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C040","Area":"IHS/PRC","Precise claim":"Referral alone does not necessarily constitute PRC payment authorization.","Source/pinpoint":"S034. \n48","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Eligibility/funding/authorization rules apply."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C041","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C041","Area":"Settlement","Precise claim":"No primary source supports universal medical-debt settlement percentages/timelines.","Source/pinpoint":"Entire source set","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Creditor practice is individualized."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C042","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C042","Area":"Credit practice","Precise claim":"Nationwide CRAs historically adopted voluntary paid/<$500 medical-collection removals; this is practice, not federal law.","Source/pinpoint":"S036. \n30","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"2026 all-bureau policy text not reverified."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C043","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C043","Area":"Card disputes","Precise claim":"CareCredit billing-error notice: written within 60 days; 30-day acknowledgment/90-day resolution framework in agreement notice.","Source/pinpoint":"S027 p.6. \n6","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Agreement/FCBA conditions apply."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_published_contract_passages_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T01:34:28.302695+00:00","coordinator_note":"Selected current published contract passages checked; borrower-specific terms, variants, statutory overlays and enforceability remain held. Penalty-condition detail is recorded in the linked review."},{"claim_id":"D012-C044","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C044","Area":"Debt classification","Precise claim":"Separate card financing creates issuer-contract debt distinct from provider receivable.","Source/pinpoint":"S027","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Underlying merchant defenses may survive under applicable law."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_published_contract_passages_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T01:34:28.302695+00:00","coordinator_note":"Selected current published contract passages checked; borrower-specific terms, variants, statutory overlays and enforceability remain held. Penalty-condition detail is recorded in the linked review."},{"claim_id":"D012-C045","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C045","Area":"Tax","Precise claim":"§61 includes cancellation income; §108 provides specified exclusions, with no blanket medical-debt exclusion.","Source/pinpoint":"S028. \n33","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Individual tax facts control."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C046","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C046","Area":"Tax","Precise claim":"Insolvency measured immediately before discharge; exclusion limited to extent insolvent.","Source/pinpoint":"S028 §108(d)(3). \n34","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Other §108 rules apply."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C047","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C047","Area":"Tax reporting","Precise claim":"Treasury materials state applicable §6050P entities generally report covered cancellations of $600+.","Source/pinpoint":"S037. \n35","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Current eCFR text needs final recheck before hard coding."},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_primary_or_agency_scope_checked_regulatory_or_individual_application_held","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T02:54:23.261891+00:00","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"claim_id":"D012-C048","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C048","Area":"Bankruptcy","Precise claim":"No Bankruptcy Code category makes ordinary debt nondischargeable solely because it is medical.","Source/pinpoint":"S029 §523. \n36","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"Other §523 exceptions/chapter rules may apply."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"claim_id":"D012-C049","area_numbers":[],"researcher_record":{"Claim ID":"D012-C049","Area":"Collateral","Precise claim":"No universal federal provider lien on ordinary patient assets identified; state lien/judgment law and Medicaid recovery are separate.","Source/pinpoint":"S020 + evidence review","Conditions / exceptions / evidence limit":"50-state lien matrix unresolved."},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"}],"sources":[{"source_id":"D012-S001","urls":["https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/requirements-for-501c3-hospitals-under-the-affordable-care-act-section-501r"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S001","Source / issuer":"Requirements for §501(c)(3) Hospitals — IRS","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/requirements-for-501c3-hospitals-under-the-affordable-care-act-section-501r — §501(r) overview","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"IRS page current July 2026; federal; operative","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n2"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_passages_checked_not_full_authority_review","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","coordinator_verification_note":"Facility-level requirements for qualifying 501(c)(3) hospital organizations; not universal provider law."},{"source_id":"D012-S002","urls":["https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/financial-assistance-policy-and-emergency-medical-care-policy-section-501r4"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S002","Source / issuer":"Financial Assistance Policy Requirements — IRS","Direct URL and pinpoint":"IRS §501(r)(4) FAP guidance; emergency/medically necessary care and provider scope","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current IRS guidance; federal","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n16"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_passages_checked_not_full_authority_review","url_recovery_provenance":{"method":"coordinator opened actual IRS overview hyperlink; original row title matched","checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","original_report_access_not_certified":true},"coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","coordinator_verification_note":"FAP scope includes emergency/medically necessary care and substantially related entities; listed providers indicate coverage. Policy-specific eligibility. Recovers missing direct URL through coordinator browsing, not original researcher access proof."},{"source_id":"D012-S003","urls":["https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/limitation-on-charges-section-501r5"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S003","Source / issuer":"Limitation on Charges — IRS / IRC §501(r)(5)","Direct URL and pinpoint":"IRS §501(r)(5); AGB limitation and gross-charge rule","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current IRS guidance; federal","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n15"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_passages_checked_not_full_authority_review","url_recovery_provenance":{"method":"coordinator opened actual IRS overview hyperlink; original row title matched","checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","original_report_access_not_certified":true},"coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","coordinator_verification_note":"AGB cap applies to FAP-eligible emergency/medically necessary care; other FAP-covered care is below gross charges. Methodology and eligibility remain case-specific. Recovers missing URL, not original access proof."},{"source_id":"D012-S004","urls":["https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-26/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-1/subject-group-ECFR062882ac6495890"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S004","Source / issuer":"26 C.F.R. §§1.501(r)-1 through -6 — Treasury/IRS","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-26/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-1/subject-group-ECFR062882ac6495890 — especially §§1.501(r)-4, -5, -6","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current eCFR; federal; final regulations","Access and limits":"Opened/read; exact 30/240-day text verified. \n17"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S005","urls":["https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S005","Source / issuer":"Know Your Medical Bill Rights — CMS","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights — lines 684-742","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Page modified Oct. 1, 2026; federal program guidance","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n37"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S006","urls":["https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights/insurance","https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S006","Source / issuer":"Medical Bill Rights When Using Insurance — CMS","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights/insurance — lines 699-870+","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current Oct. 2026; NSA implementation","Access and limits":"Opened/read; verifies facility scope, ground ambulance, dental-only exception, notice/consent. \n1"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_passages_checked_not_full_authority_review","url_extraction_provenance":"direct links in matching rendered source-table row","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","coordinator_verification_note":"Selected agency passages support covered settings and plan limits, ground-ambulance exception and dental-only distinction. No fresh statutory/regulatory authentication of all notice/consent conditions."},{"source_id":"D012-S007","urls":["https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S007","Source / issuer":"45 C.F.R. Part 149, Subparts E/F","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149 — §§149.410, 149.420","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current eCFR; federal","Access and limits":"Opened/read in research. \n38"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S008","urls":["https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149/subpart-G","https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S008","Source / issuer":"45 C.F.R. §§149.610, 149.620","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-B/part-149/subpart-G","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current eCFR; uninsured/self-pay GFE and PPDR","Access and limits":"Opened/read; $400/120-day rules verified. \n10"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked","url_extraction_provenance":"direct links in matching rendered source-table row"},{"source_id":"D012-S009","urls":["https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/get-help/dispute-bill"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S009","Source / issuer":"Dispute a Medical Bill — CMS","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/your-patient-rights/medical-bill-rights/get-help/dispute-bill","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Oct. 2, 2026","Access and limits":"Opened/read; consumer confirmation of $400 threshold. \n39"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_passages_checked_not_full_authority_review","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T00:46:55.268371+00:00","coordinator_verification_note":"CMS currently lists $25 nonrefundable administrative fee, favorable-decision credit and at-least-$12.50 settlement reduction; threshold is at least$400 over the individual provider/facility estimate and other eligibility requirements apply. 120-calendar-day initial-bill date wording. C008 current fee gap can be closed at agency-page level; underlying rule and special cases remain held."},{"source_id":"D012-S010","urls":["https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title18/1867.htm"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S010","Source / issuer":"EMTALA, 42 U.S.C. §1395dd — Congress/OLRC/GovInfo","Direct URL and pinpoint":"§1395dd; medical screening, stabilization, transfer","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current federal statute","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n3"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_subsequent_official_access_or_attributed_reuse_remaining_scope_held","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T02:54:23.261891+00:00","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_url_recovery":{"at":"2026-10-23T02:54:23.261891+00:00","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title18/1867.htm","method":"Opened/read selected statutory compilation passages","historical_original_access_verified":false,"limit":"Selected subsequent locator/access or explicit cross-report reuse; original raw record and access assertion remain unchanged."}},{"source_id":"D012-S011","urls":["https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-489/section-489.24"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S011","Source / issuer":"42 C.F.R. §489.24 — CMS","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-489/section-489.24","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current eCFR","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n40"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S012","urls":["https://www.cms.gov/medicare/regulations-guidance/legislation/emergency-medical-treatment-labor-act"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S012","Source / issuer":"EMTALA overview — CMS","Direct URL and pinpoint":"CMS EMTALA current guidance, Mar. 10, 2026","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Federal agency guidance","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n41"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_subsequent_official_access_or_attributed_reuse_remaining_scope_held","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T02:54:23.261891+00:00","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_url_recovery":{"at":"2026-10-23T02:54:23.261891+00:00","url":"https://www.cms.gov/medicare/regulations-guidance/legislation/emergency-medical-treatment-labor-act","method":"Opened/read","historical_original_access_verified":false,"limit":"Selected subsequent locator/access or explicit cross-report reuse; original raw record and access assertion remain unchanged."}},{"source_id":"D012-S013","urls":["https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/hospital-price-transparency/hospitals"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S013","Source / issuer":"Hospital Price Transparency — CMS","Direct URL and pinpoint":"CMS Hospital Price Transparency page; 45 C.F.R. Part 180","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current Sept. 2026 guidance","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n14"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_subsequent_official_access_or_attributed_reuse_remaining_scope_held","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T02:54:23.261891+00:00","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_url_recovery":{"at":"2026-10-23T02:54:23.261891+00:00","url":"https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/hospital-price-transparency/hospitals","method":"Opened/read agency page","historical_original_access_verified":false,"limit":"Selected subsequent locator/access or explicit cross-report reuse; original raw record and access assertion remain unchanged."}},{"source_id":"D012-S014","urls":["https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XXV/subchapter-H/part-2560/section-2560.503-1"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S014","Source / issuer":"29 C.F.R. §2560.503-1 — DOL","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XXV/subchapter-H/part-2560/section-2560.503-1 — appeal provisions","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current federal regulation","Access and limits":"Opened/read; 180-day and decision periods verified. \n7"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S015","urls":[],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S015","Source / issuer":"45 C.F.R. §147.136 — HHS","Direct URL and pinpoint":"Current eCFR; internal claims and appeals/external review","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current federal regulation","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n42"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S016","urls":[],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S016","Source / issuer":"MHPAEA statute","Direct URL and pinpoint":"42 U.S.C. §300gg-26 / 29 U.S.C. §1185a, parity provisions","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current federal statute","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n18"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S017","urls":[],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S017","Source / issuer":"2024 MHPAEA final-rule enforcement statement — DOL","Direct URL and pinpoint":"DOL current litigation/enforcement statement","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current agency position; 2024 new-rule portions not presently enforced as described","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n19"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S018","urls":["https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-483/section-483.15"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S018","Source / issuer":"42 C.F.R. §483.15 — CMS","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-483/section-483.15 — admissions/third-party guarantees","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current federal nursing-facility rule","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n21"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S019","urls":[],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S019","Source / issuer":"CFPB Circular 2022-05","Direct URL and pinpoint":"CFPB: Debt collection and consumer reporting practices involving nursing-home debts","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Agency interpretation, not statute","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n22"},"coordinator_verification_status":"withdrawn_guidance_material_correction_required","coordinator_status_evidence":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/guidance/withdrawn-guidance/","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-22T22:26:02.124907+00:00"},{"source_id":"D012-S020","urls":["https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t42/s1396p/"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S020","Source / issuer":"42 U.S.C. §1396p — Congress/OLRC","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t42/s1396p/ — estate recovery / transfers","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current federal Medicaid statute","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n23"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S021","urls":["https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-X/part-1006/section-1006.34"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S021","Source / issuer":"Regulation F §1006.34 — CFPB/eCFR","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-X/part-1006/section-1006.34","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current federal regulation","Access and limits":"Opened/read; validation procedures. \n25"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_regulatory_passages_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T01:36:19.190030+00:00","coordinator_status_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"D012-S022","urls":["https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-X/part-1006/section-1006.26"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S022","Source / issuer":"Regulation F §1006.26 — CFPB/eCFR","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-X/part-1006/section-1006.26","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current federal regulation","Access and limits":"Opened/read; time-barred legal-action prohibition. \n26"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_regulatory_passages_checked_with_scope_limits","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T01:36:19.190030+00:00","coordinator_status_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"D012-S023","urls":["https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1692a/","https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1692f/"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S023","Source / issuer":"15 U.S.C. §§1692a, 1692f — Congress/OLRC","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1692a/ and https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1692f/","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current FDCPA","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n4"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S024","urls":["https://www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/compliance-resources/other-applicable-requirements/fair-credit-reporting-act/"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S024","Source / issuer":"FCRA/Regulation V compliance page — CFPB","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/compliance-resources/other-applicable-requirements/fair-credit-reporting-act/ — lines 29-48","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Modified June 1, 2026; current status","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n5"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S025","urls":[],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S025","Source / issuer":"Cornerstone Credit Union League v. CFPB — E.D. Tex.","Direct URL and pinpoint":"GovInfo, E.D. Tex. No. 4:25-cv-00016, Memorandum Opinion and Order / judgment, July 11, 2025, final pages","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Federal district-court order; rule vacated","Access and limits":"Official PDF opened; relevant final pages visually checked. \n28"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S026","urls":["https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-120/t15/s1681c/"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S026","Source / issuer":"15 U.S.C. §1681c — Congress/OLRC/GovInfo","Direct URL and pinpoint":"Special veteran-medical-debt provisions","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current FCRA","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n29"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_subsequent_primary_or_historical_agency_scope_checked_remaining_application_held","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_url_recovery":{"at":"2026-10-23T03:42:20.131134+00:00","method":"Subsequent source recovery and actual selected coordinator opening; originalsessionaccessnotproven","evidence":"[internal evidence reference]"}},{"source_id":"D012-S027","urls":["https://www.carecredit.com/YourTerms/"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S027","Source / issuer":"CareCredit Credit Card Account Agreement — Synchrony Bank","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.carecredit.com/YourTerms/ — rev. 3/2026, pp. 1-6 particularly pricing, minimum payments, promotions, standard provisions and billing rights","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Actual issuer agreement; U.S. consumer credit card","Access and limits":"Full 16-page PDF opened/searched; material pages visually checked. \n6"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_contract_text_checked_not_full_contract_audit","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T01:34:28.302695+00:00","coordinator_status_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"D012-S028","urls":["https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A61+edition%3Aprelim%29","https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A108+edition%3Aprelim%29"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S028","Source / issuer":"26 U.S.C. §§61, 108 — Congress/OLRC","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A61+edition%3Aprelim%29 and https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A26+section%3A108+edition%3Aprelim%29","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current preliminary U.S. Code text","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n33"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S029","urls":["https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A11+section%3A523+edition%3Aprelim%29"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S029","Source / issuer":"11 U.S.C. §523 — Congress/OLRC","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A11+section%3A523+edition%3Aprelim%29","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current Bankruptcy Code","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n36"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S030","urls":["https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/california-it-remains-illegal-medical-debt-appear-credit-reports-attorney"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S030","Source / issuer":"California medical-debt reporting alert — California DOJ","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/california-it-remains-illegal-medical-debt-appear-credit-reports-attorney","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Nov. 13, 2025; current regulator position","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n31"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S031","urls":["https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1785.27"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S031","Source / issuer":"Cal. Civ. Code §1785.27 official Legislature URL","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1785.27.","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"California controlling statute","Access and limits":"Attempted but official server returned 403. Not treated as opened primary support for detailed clause claims. \n43"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S032","urls":["https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=127405"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S032","Source / issuer":"California H&S Code §127405 official Legislature URL","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=127405.","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"California hospital charity law","Access and limits":"Attempted; 403. Current secondary text discovered, but clause-level publication held pending primary access. \n44"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S033","urls":["https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/Portals/0/Docs/OPL/APL24-010CoverageofGroundAmbulanceServicesProvidedbyaNoncontractedProvider%286_13_2024%29.pdf"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S033","Source / issuer":"DMHC APL 24-010 / AB 716 — California DMHC","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/Portals/0/Docs/OPL/APL24-010CoverageofGroundAmbulanceServicesProvidedbyaNoncontractedProvider%286_13_2024%29.pdf","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"June 13, 2024; operative regulator guidance for stated plan scope","Access and limits":"Official regulator PDF discovered/read; scope limitations expressly stated. \n45"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S034","urls":["https://www.ihs.gov/ihm/pc/part-2/chapter-3-purchased-referred-care/"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S034","Source / issuer":"IHS Purchased/Referred Care — Indian Health Service","Direct URL and pinpoint":"https://www.ihs.gov/ihm/pc/part-2/chapter-3-purchased-referred-care/ and PRC fact sheets","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Current federal Indian-health program guidance; cites 25 U.S.C. §1621u","Access and limits":"Opened/read. \n24"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_agency_passages_checked_statutory_and_tribal_application_held","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]"},{"source_id":"D012-S035","urls":[],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S035","Source / issuer":"25 U.S.C. §1621u / IHCIA liability-for-payment provision","Direct URL and pinpoint":"U.S. Code Title 25, Ch. 18, §1621u","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Federal Indian law","Access and limits":"Statute identified through current U.S. Code/IHS materials; IHS operational interpretation opened. \n46"},"coordinator_verification_status":"not_yet_checked"},{"source_id":"D012-S036","urls":["https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/research-reports/data-spotlight-early-impacts-of-removing-low-balance-medical-collections/"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S036","Source / issuer":"CFPB medical-collection reporting changes","Direct URL and pinpoint":"CFPB consumer/research material on nationwide CRA voluntary changes","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Historical/current-practice evidence, not law","Access and limits":"Opened/discovered; current three-bureau contractual policies not individually reverified. \n30"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_subsequent_primary_or_historical_agency_scope_checked_remaining_application_held","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_url_recovery":{"at":"2026-10-23T03:42:20.131134+00:00","method":"Subsequent source recovery and actual selected coordinator opening; originalsessionaccessnotproven","evidence":"[internal evidence reference]"}},{"source_id":"D012-S037","urls":["https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-118/t26/s6050P/"],"researcher_record":{"ID":"D012-S037","Source / issuer":"§6050P reporting material — Treasury/IRS","Direct URL and pinpoint":"26 U.S.C. §6050P / Treasury materials describing $600 applicable-entity reporting rule","Version / rule status / jurisdiction":"Federal tax reporting","Access and limits":"Supporting Treasury material found; current eCFR clause not re-opened. Publication qualifier required. \n35"},"coordinator_verification_status":"selected_subsequent_official_access_or_attributed_reuse_remaining_scope_held","coordinator_checked_at":"2026-10-23T02:54:23.261891+00:00","coordinator_check_evidence":"[internal evidence reference]","coordinator_url_recovery":{"at":"2026-10-23T02:54:23.261891+00:00","url":"https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-118/t26/s6050P/","method":"Attributed prior coordinator evidence, not reopened in this pass","historical_original_access_verified":false,"limit":"Selected subsequent locator/access or explicit cross-report reuse; original raw record and access assertion remain unchanged."}}],"coverage":[{"topic":"Hospitals","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Hospitals","Status":"Answered — federal; state partial","What is answered":"§501(r), NSA, EMTALA, price transparency, collections framework","Claim refs":"C002, C009-C019","Missing evidence / next research action":"50-state hospital fair-pricing/collection matrix not completed."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Clinicians","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Clinicians","Status":"Answered / partial","What is answered":"NSA setting distinction, FAP provider coverage, collection rules","Claim refs":"C015, C018, C025-C028","Missing evidence / next research action":"State professional-fee billing statutes by profession."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Ambulance","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Ambulance","Status":"Answered federal; California exemplar","What is answered":"Air vs ground federal split; CA DMHC AB 716","Claim refs":"C003, C037","Missing evidence / next research action":"49-state/D.C. ground-ambulance balance-billing matrix; CA uninsured clause primary text."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Emergency","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Emergency","Status":"Answered","What is answered":"EMTALA plus NSA emergency balance-billing framework","Claim refs":"C002, C005, C012","Missing evidence / next research action":"State emergency-billing laws not exhaustively surveyed."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Dental","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Dental","Status":"Partial","What is answered":"Dental-only NSA exception; ordinary office-setting limitation","Claim refs":"C004, C015","Missing evidence / next research action":"State dental billing/collection laws; individual dental-plan contracts."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Mental health","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Mental health","Status":"Answered federal / state partial","What is answered":"MHPAEA statutory parity and 2024-rule enforcement status","Claim refs":"C020-C021","Missing evidence / next research action":"Full state parity and network-adequacy matrix."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Rehabilitation","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Rehabilitation","Status":"Partial","What is answered":"Classification by setting/payer; no separate federal debt regime identified","Claim refs":"C015, C022","Missing evidence / next research action":"IRF/SNF/home-health payer-specific debt pathways could support separate module."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Nursing / long-term care","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Nursing / long-term care","Status":"Answered federal / state partial","What is answered":"Third-party guarantee rule, CFPB interpretation, Medicaid estate recovery","Claim refs":"C023-C024, C038","Missing evidence / next research action":"State filial-responsibility, probate, facility-contract and estate-recovery matrix."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Insurance","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Insurance","Status":"Answered core federal","What is answered":"ERISA/ACA appeals and adverse-benefit review","Claim refs":"C013-C014","Missing evidence / next research action":"Medicare/Medicaid/state external-review deadlines deserve separate payer table."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Itemization","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Itemization","Status":"Partial","What is answered":"GFE, price transparency and validation distinguished","Claim refs":"C006-C007, C016-C017","Missing evidence / next research action":"Universal post-service itemized-bill proposition not verified; state/program research needed."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Charity assistance","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Charity assistance","Status":"Answered federal; state partial","What is answered":"§501(r) FAP, AGB, ECAs, provider scope","Claim refs":"C009-C011, C018-C019","Missing evidence / next research action":"Current official CA §127405 text blocked; national state charity matrix absent."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Medical cards","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Medical cards","Status":"Answered for CareCredit; market partial","What is answered":"Complete 3/2026 Synchrony agreement, pricing, promo, payments, billing errors","Claim refs":"C032-C036, C043-C044","Missing evidence / next research action":"Other issuers/products not researched; state “medical debt” definition as applied to cards unresolved."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Surprise bills","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Surprise bills","Status":"Answered","What is answered":"Federal settings/services, consent, self-pay PPDR","Claim refs":"C002-C008","Missing evidence / next research action":"State-specific additions beyond California remain open."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Collections","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Collections","Status":"Answered federal","What is answered":"Collector definition, validation, time-barred suits, added amounts","Claim refs":"C025-C028","Missing evidence / next research action":"Original-creditor state laws and licensing matrix needed."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Litigation","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Litigation","Status":"Partial","What is answered":"Federal collector limit on time-barred litigation","Claim refs":"C027","Missing evidence / next research action":"State SOL, service, answer deadlines, exemptions, garnishment and judgment rules unresolved nationally."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Credit","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Credit","Status":"Answered federal status; state partial","What is answered":"CFPB-rule vacatur, veteran rule, CA ban, CRA practice distinction","Claim refs":"C029-C031, C042","Missing evidence / next research action":"Primary CA code access and nationwide current bureau-policy recheck."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Tax","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Tax","Status":"Answered core federal / reporting partial","What is answered":"COD income and insolvency","Claim refs":"C045-C047","Missing evidence / next research action":"Current §6050P regulation should be re-opened; state income-tax conformity not surveyed."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Collateral/liens","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Collateral/liens","Status":"Partial","What is answered":"Medicaid estate recovery distinguished; no universal federal provider lien found","Claim refs":"C038, C049","Missing evidence / next research action":"50-state hospital/tort/judgment lien matrix."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Guarantors","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Guarantors","Status":"Answered core federal/contract example","What is answered":"Nursing admission guarantee restriction; joint CareCredit liability","Claim refs":"C023, C036","Missing evidence / next research action":"State guaranty, spouse-liability and necessaries doctrines remain open."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Debt validity","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Debt validity","Status":"Answered framework / state partial","What is answered":"Insurance, NSA, FAP, PRC, contract and collection validation pathways","Claim refs":"C001, C006-C013, C026, C039-C040","Missing evidence / next research action":"Underlying state contract/quantum-meruit rules not surveyed nationally."},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"},{"topic":"Federal Indian-health / tribal","researcher_record":{"Assigned subtopic":"Federal Indian-health / tribal","Status":"Partial","What is answered":"Authorized PRC no-patient-liability rule","Claim refs":"C039-C040","Missing evidence / next research action":"Individual tribal codes/courts not surveyed; should not be characterized as nationwide “tribal law.”"},"coordinator_acceptance":"not_yet_reviewed"}],"annotations":{},"corrections":[],"resolved_corrections":[],"review_history":[]}