Florida medical debt collection poses a unique challenge for revenue-cycle leaders. Rising self-pay balances, stiff penalties under the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA), and aggressive oversight from the CFPB mean even a small compliance misstep can cost thousands. Yet, with MSB’s 55 years of healthcare-focused collections, you can turn aged accounts into predictable revenue without harming patient goodwill. Our real-time analytics inside Expert Analysis combine to deliver faster liquidations while protecting both your reputation and your bottom line.
Florida Medical Debt Collection Laws
State-Specific Regulations
Florida sets a five-year statute of limitations on written contracts, including most patient-responsibility balances (Fla. Stat. § 95.11 (2)(b)), and four years on oral agreements (§ 95.11 (3)(k)). Partial payments or written acknowledgments restart the clock. Under the Patient’s Right-to-Know Act (HB 1175, 2016), hospitals must give an itemized, plain-language bill within seven days of a patient’s request and before initiating Florida medical debt collection efforts. Non-profit hospitals must also screen for charity-care eligibility and wait at least 120 days before extraordinary collection actions, mirroring IRS 501(r).
HIPAA Compliance Requirements
Every Florida medical debt collection file contains protected health information. MSB encrypts all ePHI in transit and at rest, enforces role-based access, and signs Business Associate Agreements that mirror Florida’s 30-day breach-notification rule. Quarterly risk assessments and immutable audit logs live in our HIPAA + FDCPA dashboard, ready for inspection by your compliance officer.
FCCPA & FDCPA in Florida
Florida’s Consumer Collection Practices Act (Fla. Stat. § 559) extends FDCPA-style prohibitions—harassment, false threats, deceptive practices—to all creditors, not just third-party agencies. MSB maintains the required $50,000 surety bond and recertifies every collector annually. We also monitor the CFPB’s pending rule that would ban all medical tradelines from credit reports nationwide; until enacted, we suppress bureau reporting whenever you request it.
Our Florida Medical Debt Collection Process
Phase 1: Account Review & Validation
We pull receivables directly from Epic, Cerner, or Meditech Self-Pay Recovery, then scrub for insurance denials, duplicate claims, and HB 1175 itemization requirements. Clean data is the bedrock of compliant Florida medical debt collection.
Phase 2: Patient Contact & Communication
First notices mail within 24 hours and include bilingual summaries of charity-care options. Voice, SMS, email, and portal messaging respect Florida’s 8 a.m.–9 p.m. window. Patients can self-serve through our Early-Out Patient Collections module, setting up zero-interest plans in minutes.
Phase 3: Resolution & Payment Processing
Negotiated settlements and HSA draws post instantly to your patient-management system, while real-time APIs feed dashboards for finance and compliance staff. All receipts meet FCCPA disclosure rules, closing the loop on fully compliant Florida medical debt collection.
Types of Medical Debt We Collect
Hospital & Health-System Debt
- Emergency-department visits
- Inpatient & outpatient surgeries
- Diagnostic imaging & lab services
- Surgical implants & supplies
Physician-Practice Collections
- Primary-care appointments
- Specialist consults & office procedures
- Lab work & imaging referrals
Specialty Healthcare Debt
- Dental debt collection
- Vision and hearing care
- Mental-health therapy
- Home-health & physical therapy balances
Benefits for Florida Healthcare Providers
Improved Cash Flow
Clients using our Florida medical debt collection programs cut AR days by 29 % on average, freeing working capital for staff and tech upgrades.
Compliance Assurance
HIPAA encryption, FCCPA-certified agents, and HB 1175 itemization workflows shield you from costly fines or PR fallout.
Patient Relationship Preservation
Empathy-first scripting, transparent billing, and flexible payment plans keep Net Promoter Scores high, even during challenging Florida medical debt collection conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the statute of limitations for medical debt in Florida?
Five years for written contracts, four for oral. Partial payment or written acknowledgment restarts the five-year clock.
Can medical debt affect my credit score in Florida?
Currently, yes, but the CFPB is pursuing a nationwide ban on reporting medical balances; MSB suppresses reporting on request.
How does medical debt collection differ from other debt?
Florida medical debt collection must satisfy HIPAA rules, FCCPA prohibitions, HB 1175 itemized-billing mandates, and charity-care screening, tougher than typical consumer debt.
What should I do if I receive a medical debt collection notice?
Review the itemized bill, compare charges to your Explanation of Benefits, and contact MSB within 30 days to dispute or arrange a payment plan.
Contact Us
Ready to strengthen your revenue cycle? Connect with our nationwide MSB headquarters, serving Florida providers every day.
Phone: 316-263-1051
Address: 625 W. Maple St., Wichita, KS 67213
