Medical Debt Protections in Oregon
State protections for medical debt in Oregon, including credit reporting and collection limits.
Short answer: No one may report medical debt of an Oregon resident to a credit reporting agency, and credit bureaus may not include known medical debt in a credit report. ORS 646A.677
| Medical debt protections | No one may report medical debt of an Oregon resident to a credit reporting agency, and credit bureaus may not include known medical debt in a credit report. Hospitals must screen patients for financial assistance before sending a bill to collections. Interest on medical debt is barred for patients who qualify for financial assistance and otherwise capped at the one-year Treasury yield, between 2% and 5% a year, until judgment. Collectors may not pursue family members who are not legally responsible. Last amended 2025 (c. 343), which added the credit-reporting ban. Source: ORS 646A.677 |
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Where to get help in Oregon
- Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Division of Financial Regulation (registers collection agencies)
- File a complaint or claim
More Oregon debt & collections
- Statute of Limitations on Debt in Oregon
- Wage Garnishment in Oregon
- How to Respond to a Debt Collection Lawsuit in Oregon
- What Creditors Can't Take in Oregon
- All Oregon debt & collections rules
FAQ
What protections apply to medical debt in Oregon?
No one may report medical debt of an Oregon resident to a credit reporting agency, and credit bureaus may not include known medical debt in a credit report. Hospitals must screen patients for financial assistance before sending a bill to collections. Interest on medical debt is barred for patients who qualify for financial assistance and otherwise capped at the one-year Treasury yield, between 2% and 5% a year, until judgment. Collectors may not pursue family members who are not legally responsible.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.