(1) An ambulance service may not sell or assign medical debt related to ambulance services following a motor vehicle accident to any person licensed under chapter 19.16 RCW until at least 120 days after the initial billing statement for that medical debt has been transmitted to the patient and other responsible party.
(2) For purposes of this section:
(a) "Motor vehicle accident" includes incidents where a pedestrian or bicyclist is struck or otherwise injured by a motor vehicle.
(b) "Initial billing statement" means the first billing statement provided to a patient and other responsible parties by the ground ambulance services organization after care has been rendered. The billing statement may be mailed or provided electronically.
(c) "Other responsible party" means any individual or entity other than the patient who holds a legal or contractual responsibility for paying medical bills.
[ 2026 c 126 s 1.]