# Maryland — State minimum standards for hospital financial assistance (charity care)

For Maryland, statute is §19–214.1; income level for free care is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level; highest income the rule still protects is below 500% of the federal poverty level; required discounts by income band is 1. For a patient with family income of at least 201% but not more than 250% of the federal poverty level, by 75%; 2. For a patient with family income of more than 250% but not more than 300% of the federal poverty level, by 60%; 3. For a patient with family income of more than 300% but not more than 350% of the federal poverty level, by 50%; 4. For a patient with family income of more than 350% but not more than 400% of the federal poverty level, by 45%; 5. For a patient with family income of more than 400% but not more than 450% of the federal poverty level, by 40%; and 6. For a patient with family income of more than 450% but not more than 500% of the federal poverty level, by 35%; which hospitals must comply is each acute care hospital and each chronic care hospital in the State under the jurisdiction of the Commission, verified against its source on 2026-08-30.

- **State:** Maryland _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Statute:** §19–214.1 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Income level for free care:** at or below 200% of the federal poverty level _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Highest income the rule still protects:** below 500% of the federal poverty level _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Required discounts by income band:** 1. For a patient with family income of at least 201% but not more than 250% of the federal poverty level, by 75%; 2. For a patient with family income of more than 250% but not more than 300% of the federal poverty level, by 60%; 3. For a patient with family income of more than 300% but not more than 350% of the federal poverty level, by 50%; 4. For a patient with family income of more than 350% but not more than 400% of the federal poverty level, by 45%; 5. For a patient with family income of more than 400% but not more than 450% of the federal poverty level, by 40%; and 6. For a patient with family income of more than 450% but not more than 500% of the federal poverty level, by 35%. _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Which hospitals must comply:** each acute care hospital and each chronic care hospital in the State under the jurisdiction of the Commission _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Deadline to apply:** within 240 days after the initial hospital bill is provided _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Basis for the income test:** federal poverty level _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Notes:** Subject to income thresholds set under paragraph (3) of this subsection, the financial assistance policy required under this subsection shall provide reduced–cost medically necessary care to patients with family income below 500% of the federal poverty level who have a financial hardship. _(verified: appears in the quote below)_

## What the source says

> Free medically necessary care to patients with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, calculated at the time of service or updated, as appropriate, to account for any change in financial circumstances of the patient that occurs within 240 days after the initial hospital bill is provided;

## Source

- https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=ghg&section=19-214.1

Last verified: 2026-08-30. Review by: 2027-02-22.
Part of [State minimum standards for hospital financial assistance (charity care)](https://referencesource.org/state-hospital-financial-assistance-thresholds/).