(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Affiliated with” means (A) employed by a hospital or health system, (B) under a professional services agreement with a hospital or health system that permits such hospital or health system to bill on behalf of such entity, or (C) a clinical faculty member of a medical school, as defined in § 33-182aa, who is affiliated with a hospital or health system in a manner that permits such hospital or health system to bill on behalf of such clinical faculty member.

(2) “Owned by” means owned by a hospital or health system when billed under the hospital’s tax identification number.

(b) If, at any point in the debt collection process, whether before or after the entry of judgment, a hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital, as defined in § 19a-490, or a collection agent, as defined in § 19a-509b, becomes aware that a debtor from whom the hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital is seeking payment for health care rendered receives information that the debtor is eligible for hospital bed funds, free or reduced price hospital services or any other program which would result in the elimination of liability for the debt or reduction in the amount of such liability, such hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital or collection agent shall promptly discontinue all collection efforts against such debtor for such health care and refer the collection file for such health care to such hospital or entity that is owned by or affiliated with such hospital until such hospital or entity determines whether such debtor is eligible for such elimination or reduction. Such collection efforts shall not resume until such hospital or entity makes such determination.