§ 1797.233

(a) A ground ambulance provider shall not require an uninsured patient or self-pay patient to pay an amount more than the established payment by Medi-Cal or Medicare fee-for-service amount, whichever is greater.

(b) (1) A ground ambulance provider shall only advance to collections the Medicare or Medi-Cal payment amount, as determined pursuant to subdivision (a), that the uninsured or self-pay patient failed to pay.

(2) The ground ambulance provider, or an entity acting on its behalf, including a debt buyer or assignee of the debt, shall not do either of the following:

(A) Report adverse information to a consumer credit reporting agency.

(B) Commence civil action against the individual for a minimum of 12 months after the initial billing regarding amounts owed by the individual pursuant to subdivision (a).

(3) With respect to an uninsured patient or self-pay patient, the ground ambulance provider, or an entity acting on its behalf, including an assignee of the debt, shall not use wage garnishments or liens on primary residences as a means of collecting unpaid bills pursuant to this section.

(c) Ground ambulance service providers remain subject to balance billing protections for Medi-Cal beneficiaries under Section 14019.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 520, Sec. 9. (SB 1061) Effective January 1, 2025.)