What are you looking for? Patients Debt Collection Protection ActReport Insurance Fraud in New MexicoInsurance TypesTitle InsuranceHomeowners InsuranceCondo InsuranceRenters InsuranceAuto InsuranceHealth InsuranceManaged Health Care ReviewBilling ExamplesHealthcare Provider ArrangementsMultiple Employer Welfare Arrangement (MEWA)Grievance Procedures RulesWhat Consumers need to know about Surprise BillingIndependent Review OrganizationLife InsuranceOther Types of Health InsuranceStay Ready for Disasters!FloodWildfireWind & HailWinter Storm Resources Read the Law: Patients’ Debt Collection Protection Act (PDF) Read OSI’s Rules: Title 13 Chapter 10 Part 39 Access Indigency Tool – English (PDF) Access Indigency Tool – Spanish (PDF) OSI Events Calendar View our calendar of events Starting July 1, 2021, New Mexico law protects low-income people from medical debt collection. The law is called the Patient’s Debt Collection Protection Act. Debt collection can be selling the debt to a third party, and it can be filing a lawsuit against the patient. Debt collection also can be placing a lien on the patient’s property or garnishing wages. If you are low-income, medical providers cannot take certain debt collection actions against you. Low-income also is called “indigent.” Under New Mexico law, “indigent” means your household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. You can ask your medical provider or the debt collector to decide if you are indigent. You can also check the federal income guidelines to see if you may qualify. See the Debt Collection Notice below to learn more about your rights. You can fill out the “OSI Attestation of Indigency Form” to claim indigency. Consumer Resources OSI Attestation of Indigency Form – English (PDF) OSI Attestation of Indigency Form – Spanish (PDF) OSI Instructions for Attestation of Indigency Form – English (PDF) OSI Instructions for Attestation of Indigency Form – Spanish (PDF) Debt Collection Notice (PDF)
