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A medical bill may be reported to the credit bureaus by the collection agency after it enters the collection phase. No, medical bill collecting doesn't violate HIPAA as long as the right precautions are taken to safeguard the patient's private information. However, there can also be other elements at work, like problems with insurance coverage or misunderstandings regarding the services that a patient's plan covered. The collection firm that is hired to deal with unpaid medical bills will frequently be open to bargaining. Are medical bill collections a violation of HIPAA?HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, outlines the rules and regulations that protect individuals' health information. As with credit card debt or vehicle loans, medical bills are included in credit reports as they are debts owing to creditors. Medical bill collections are not a violation of HIPAA, as long as the collection agency or healthcare provider follows HIPAA guidelines when handling PHI (Protected Health Information). A patient's insurance coverage concerns or misunderstandings regarding the procedures that were covered by their plan could be additional elements at work, though. When medical debt gets past due, it is given to debt collectors because it is seen as a type of consumer debt. Yes, the collection of medical bills can harm a patient's credit rating. The best way for patients to try and negotiate a payment plan or a lower amount due before the bill gets to collections is to speak with the medical provider directly first.medical bill collections