Connecticut General Statutes Title 19A. Public Health and Well-Being § 19a-673b. Initiation of debt collection activities

(a) As used in this section:

(b) No hospital, as defined in section 19a-490, or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital shall refer to a collection agent, as defined in section 19a-509b, or initiate an action against an individual patient or such patient's estate to collect fees arising from health care provided at a hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital on or after October 1, 2003, unless the hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital has determined that such individual patient is an uninsured patient, as defined in section 19a-673, who is ineligible for the hospital bed fund.

(c) No hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital, as defined in section 19a-490, and no collection agent, as defined in section 19a-509b, that receives a referral from a hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital, shall:

(d) Nothing in subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall affect the ability of a hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital to initiate an action against an individual patient or such patient's estate to collect coinsurance, deductibles or fees arising from health care provided at a hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital where such coinsurance, deductibles or fees may be eligible for reimbursement through awards, settlements or judgments arising from claims, suits or proceedings. In addition, nothing in said subsections shall affect the ability of a hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital to initiate an action against an individual patient or such patient's estate where payment or reimbursement has been made, or likely is to be made, directly to the patient.