Georgia medical debt collection today is a tight-rope walk: balances grow, yet one compliance slip can trigger Fair Business Practices Act penalties or patient blow-back. Midwest Service Bureau (MSB) delivers a Georgia medical debt collection workflow that converts receivables into revenue, without harming patient trust. Our 55 years of healthcare focus and real-time analytics inside Expert Analysis mean faster liquidations, cleaner audits, and calmer CFOs.
Georgia Medical Debt Collection Laws
State-Specific Regulations
- Statute of limitations: Six years on written contracts and four years on open accounts (many doctor-bill invoices) — O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24, § 9-3-25.
- Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act (2021): Out-of-network balances under dispute cannot move to Georgia medical debt collection until the insurer-provider arbitration window closes.
- Hospital liens: Facilities may file liens against third-party liability payouts (O.C.G.A. § 44-14-470 et seq.) but must serve notice within 30 days to preserve rights.
HIPAA Compliance Requirements
MSB encrypts every byte of PHI, enforces role-based access, and mirrors Georgia’s 30-day breach-notice window under the Personal Information Protection Act. Immutable logs live in our HIPAA + FDCPA dashboard for instant audits.
Georgia Fair Business Practices Act (FBPA) & Licensing
The FBPA (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-390) bans deceptive, unfair, or abusive collection; violations carry treble-damage exposure. Georgia does not license collection agencies, but MSB voluntarily bonds and follows FDCPA standards nationwide, adding an extra compliance layer.
Credit-reporting note: Georgia has not banned medical tradelines, but the new CFPB rule barring them nationwide (finalized Jan 2025) is on hold; MSB suppresses reporting on request.
Our Georgia Medical Debt Collection Process
Phase 1 – Account Review & Validation
We import AR from Epic, Cerner, or Meditech Self-Pay Recovery, then scrub for payer denials, duplicate claims, Surprise-Billing holds, and time-barred accounts—so only compliant Georgia medical debt collection files advance.
Phase 2 – Patient Contact & Communication
First notices mail within 24 hours, paired with bilingual charity-care flyers. Voice, SMS, email, and portal outreach respect Georgia’s 8 a.m.–9 p.m. window and FBPA scripting. Patients can self-serve through our Early-Out Patient Collections portal, setting up no-interest plans in minutes.
Phase 3 – Resolution & Payment Processing
Settlements, HSA draws, and payment-plan drafts post instantly to your PMS; real-time APIs feed finance dashboards. All receipts satisfy FBPA disclosure rules, closing the loop on fully compliant Georgia 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
- Ancillary lab/imaging referrals
Specialty Healthcare Debt
- Dental debt collection
- Vision & hearing care
- Mental-health therapy
- Home-health & physical-therapy balances
Benefits for Georgia Healthcare Providers
Improved Cash Flow
Clients using our Georgia medical debt collection program cut AR days by 30 % on average, capital for staffing and technology upgrades.
Compliance Assurance
HIPAA encryption, voluntary bonding, and Surprise-Billing workflows shield you from Attorney-General scrutiny and PR fallout.
Patient Relationship Preservation
Empathy-first scripting, transparent billing, and flexible payment options keep Net Promoter Scores high, even during tough Georgia medical debt collection conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the statute of limitations for medical debt in Georgia?
Six years on written contracts, four years on open accounts; a partial payment or signed promise restarts the six-year clock.
Can medical debt affect my credit score in Georgia?
Yes—until the federal CFPB ban takes effect. MSB can suppress bureau reporting on request.
How does medical debt collection differ from other debt?
Georgia medical debt collection must navigate HIPAA, the FBPA, Surprise-Billing arbitration holds, hospital lien statutes, and a dual statute of limitations—tougher than standard consumer debt.
What should I do if I receive a medical debt collection notice?
Review the itemized bill, check your Explanation of Benefits, and contact MSB within 30 days to dispute or arrange a plan.
Contact Us
Ready to boost your revenue cycle? Reach our nationwide MSB headquarters, serving Georgia providers daily.
Phone: 316-263-1051
Address: 625 W. Maple St., Wichita, KS 67213
