Discontinuance of debt collection efforts upon receipt of notice of pending claim from Office of Victim Services

If at any point in the debt collection process, whether before or after the entry of judgment, a health care provider, a consumer collection agency acting on behalf of a health care provider, an attorney representing a health care provider or an employee or agent of a health care provider, becomes aware and receives notice from the Office of Victim Services that a debtor from whom payment is sought has a pending claim under sections 54-201 to 54-218, inclusive, relating to the treatment that resulted in the debt, such health care provider, consumer collection agency, attorney, employee or agent, shall promptly discontinue any collection efforts until (1) an award is made on such claim, (2) the claim is approved without payment, or (3) the claim is determined to be noncompensable pursuant to section 54-208. Any applicable statute of limitations for the collection of such debt shall be tolled during the period for which the suspension of debt collection is required pursuant to this section. For the purposes of this section “health care provider” has the same meaning as “provider” under section 20-7b, and includes an institution, as defined in section 19a-490, and any health care institution or facility operated by the state.