The Consumer Protection Act, established in 1961, prohibits unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce, contracts, or conspiracies that restrain trade or commerce, and monopolies. The attorney general may bring actions in the name of the state against any person to restrain and prevent acts prohibited by the Consumer Protection Act and request a broad array of remedial actions. A person may bring suit for treble damages up to $25,000 above the amount of the actual injury plus attorneys fees alleging they were injured in their business or property.

A medical debt, defined as any obligation for payment arising out of an agreement or contract for the provision of health care services, may be reported by a licensed collection agency to a consumer credit reporting agency or credit bureau only after 180 days has passed after the original obligation was received by or assigned to the collection agency. A health care provider or health care facility may sell or assign a medical debt to a licensed collection agency no sooner than 120 days after the initial billing statement has been transmitted to the patient or other responsible party.

A medical debt is unenforceable if a person, health care provider, health care facility, or licensed collection agency reports it to a consumer credit reporting agency.

Neither a consumer reporting agency, licensed collection agency, hospital, physician group, nor other professional partner of a hospital may report adverse information about claims involving a medical debt to consumer credit reporting agencies or credit bureaus. The definition of medical debt is redefined to mean a debt owed by a consumer to a person whose primary business is providing medical services, products, or devices, or to such person's agent or assignee, for the provision of such medical services, products, or devices. Medical debt includes medical bills that are not past due or that have been paid. Medical service, product, or device includes any service, drug, medication, product, or device sold, offered, or provided to a patient by a health care provider or health care facility. Cosmetic surgery, except for certain reconstructive surgery after injury or disease, is not considered a medical service, produce, or device.

Failure to comply with these mandates and prohibitions is deemed an unfair or deceptive act with respect to the Consumer Protection Act. Such actions are considered to be violations of the law governing the license of a hospital, physician group, or professional partner of a hospital.