An Act to Protect Consumers from Predatory Medical Credit Card Providers
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2174
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: JACKSON, TALBOT ROSS, BAILEY, CURRY, HICKMAN, NANGLE, RENY, TIPPING, ARFORD, PERRY
Amends: 9-A MRSA §5

Legislative Document
No. 2174
S.P. 925
In Senate, January 22, 2024
An Act to Protect Consumers from Predatory Medical Credit Card 
Providers
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by President JACKSON of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Speaker TALBOT ROSS of Portland and
Senators: BAILEY of York, CURRY of Waldo, HICKMAN of Kennebec, NANGLE of 
Cumberland, RENY of Lincoln, TIPPING of Penobscot, Representatives: ARFORD of 
Brunswick, PERRY of Calais.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  9-A MRSA §5-116-A, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 526, §1, is 
repealed and the following enacted in its place:
1.  Definitions.  For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following 
meanings.
A. "Deferred interest provision" means a contractual provision that allows for interest 
to be charged on portions of the original balance on a medical credit card that have 
already been paid off.
B. "Health care provider" means a physician, health care practitioner, hospital, clinic, 
clinical laboratory, health care facility or other person or facility that provides health 
care services and is licensed or registered by the State.
C. "Medical credit card" means a credit card that is extended by a creditor to a 
consumer to defer payment for health care services.
Sec. 2.  9-A MRSA §5-116-A, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5.  Medical credit cards; requirements.  The following requirements apply to medical 
credit cards.
A. A health care provider may not offer or arrange for a medical credit card for a 
consumer, or establish or otherwise complete any portion of an application for a 
medical credit card on a consumer's behalf, in that health care provider's office, 
treatment area or other health care setting.  
B. A health care provider may not offer, arrange for or establish a medical credit card 
for a consumer that contains a deferred interest provision in the medical credit card 
contract. 
C. A health care provider may not charge the costs for health care services on a medical 
credit card at any time prior to the date upon which health care services are rendered 
or costs are incurred. 
D. Before accepting any payment from a consumer using a medical credit card, a health 
care provider shall screen the consumer for eligibility for charity care in accordance 
with any charity care policy adopted by the health care provider in accordance with the 
requirements of Title 22, sections 1715 and 1716.
E. A creditor that extends a medical credit card to a consumer and is attempting to 
collect unpaid payments in connection with the medical credit card from a consumer is 
subject to the provisions of Title 32, chapter 109-A.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the following requirements related to credit cards designed 
specifically for the payment of health care services.
1.  It prohibits a health care provider from offering or arranging for a medical credit 
card for a consumer, or establishing or otherwise completing any portion of an application 
for a medical credit card on a consumer's behalf, in that health care provider's office, 
treatment area or other health care setting.
2.  It prohibits a health care provider from offering, arranging for or establishing a 
medical credit card for a consumer that contains a deferred interest provision in the medical 
credit card contract.
3.  It prohibits a health care provider from charging the costs for health care services 
to a medical credit card at any time prior to the date upon which health care services are 
rendered or costs are incurred.
4.  It requires a health care provider to screen a consumer for eligibility for charity care 
before accepting payment from a consumer using a medical credit card.
5.  It provides that a creditor that extends a medical credit card to a consumer and is 
attempting to collect unpaid payments in connection with the medical credit card from a 
consumer is subject to the provisions of the Maine Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.