US Medical Term · billing
Extraordinary Collection Action
Acción de Cobro Extraordinaria
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Extraordinary Collection Action |
| Spanish (Español) | Acción de Cobro Extraordinaria |
| Chinese (中文) | 超常催收行动 |
| Korean (한국어) | 특별 추심 조치 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Hành động thu nợ đặc biệt |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Pambihirang Aksyon sa Pagkolekta |
| Portuguese (Português) | Ação Extraordinária de Cobrança |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การดำเนินการเก็บหนี้พิเศษ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 特別な債権回収措置 |
What it means
An extraordinary collection action (ECA) is an aggressive debt collection measure that nonprofit hospitals subject to IRS Section 501(r) are prohibited from taking before making a reasonable effort to determine if a patient qualifies for financial assistance. ECAs include reporting medical debt to credit bureaus, filing a lawsuit, obtaining a judgment lien against property, garnishing wages, and seizing bank accounts. Hospitals must give patients at least 120 days from the first billing statement to apply for financial assistance before initiating ECAs. Initiating an ECA prematurely can jeopardize the hospital's tax-exempt status. If you receive a collection notice from a hospital, immediately ask about the financial assistance policy and apply before the deadline.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
The hospital cannot report your bill to a credit bureau without first offering you a financial assistance application.
El hospital no puede reportar su factura a una agencia de crédito sin antes ofrecerle una solicitud de asistencia financiera.
If the hospital sued you before completing the financial assistance determination, it may have violated IRS 501(r) rules.
Si el hospital lo demandó antes de completar la determinación de asistencia financiera, puede haber violado las reglas 501(r) del IRS.
Ask the billing department to pause any extraordinary collection actions while your financial assistance application is being reviewed.
Pida al departamento de facturación que pause cualquier acción de cobro extraordinaria mientras se revisa su solicitud de asistencia financiera.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026