Health Education and Advocacy Unit​​

​​Service​​s

The Health Education and Advocacy Unit (HEAU) of the Consumer Protection Division offers free mediation services to consumers who need help with:

Billing and Payment Issues

• Billing disputes with healthcare providers
• Hospital financial assistance programs - get help navigating these programs
• Denied financial assistance or an income-based payment plan by a Maryland hospital
  
• Surprise medical bills from out-of-network emergency care facilities or out-of-network providers at in-network hospitals or ambulatory surgical centers
• Bills higher than good faith estimates given before planned medical treatment
• Outpatient facility fees billed by Maryland hospitals without proper facility fee disclosure notice

Insurance and Coverage Problems

• Denied coverage of all or part of care by private health plans
• Plan termination by private health plans
• Maryland Health Connection issues - denied enrollment in Qualified Health Plans or denied Advanced Premium Tax Credits or Cost-Sharing Reductions

Medical Records and Equipment

• Medical records - help obtaining copies
• Medical equipment disputes

Note: The HEAU is unable to provide legal representation or initiate lawsuits on behalf of individual consumers.​

For information on nursing homes, hospitals, hospice, assisted living facilities, and more – including quality and performance reports, price comparison, filing complaints, and telehealth information – visit the Maryland Health Care Commission’s ​​​Maryland Quality Reporting website.

Open Enrollment Information​

• File a Complaint
• Quality of Care Complaints​
  
• ​About the No Surprises Act​
  
• Consumer​ Satisfaction Survey​
  
• HEAU Annual Reports
• ​2024 Report
  
• 2023 Report​
• 2022 Report
  
• Full Report Archive​ at the Maryland Legislative Library Website​
  

Contact Information

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