Health and Safety Code section 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 report adverse information to a consumer credit reporting agency or 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.
Source:
Section 1797.233, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=1797.233. (accessed Apr. 24, 2025).