Medical debt laws in Arkansas
In Arkansas, the statute of limitations on medical debt is 2 years (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-111 (5 years, written contracts); Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105 (3 years, oral contracts and open accounts); Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-106(b) (2 years, medical services)). Arkansas has a medical-debt-specific limitations statute: Ark. Code § 16-56-106(b) bars actions to recover charges for medical services (for services performed after March 31, 1985) after 2 years from the date the services were performed or from the date of the most recent partial payment, whichever is later. Acts 2021, No. 1032 would raise this to 5 years, but its § 2 made that amendment contingent on federal H.R. 5330 (116th Cong.) becoming law by January 1, 2026; that bill never passed, so the 5-year version never took effect. The 2-year medical period (shorter than the 3-year open-account and 5-year written-contract periods) governs ordinary medical bills. Sites reprinting the contingent 5-year text (e.g., FindLaw) are showing a version that is not in force. That clock decides whether a collector can win a lawsuit against you — which changes what you should do next, so check the dates on the bill before you do anything else.
| Written contracts | 5 years |
| Oral agreements | 3 years |
| Open accounts (credit cards) | 3 years |
| Medical debt | 2 years |
What the time limit actually means
The statute of limitations does not erase a debt — it limits how long a collector can successfully sue over it. A time-barred debt can still be requested, reported (within credit-reporting time limits), and settled. But if a collector sues after the period has run and you raise the statute of limitations as a defense, the case should be dismissed. The defense is not automatic: you must respond to the lawsuit to use it.
Careful: Yes — Ark. Code § 16-56-111 (as amended 1989) provides that partial payment or a written acknowledgment of default tolls/restarts the written-contract period, and § 16-56-106(b) expressly restarts the medical-debt period from the most recent partial payment; an oral acknowledgment is not enough.
Arkansas protections for medical debt
- Medical-services limitations statute with fixed accrual date (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-106(b)) — The medical-debt clock runs from the date of service (or last partial payment) rather than from default, giving a definite 2-year cutoff for suits on medical bills — shorter than Arkansas's general 3-year open-account and 5-year written-contract periods.
- Charity care is federal law. Nonprofit hospitals must maintain a written Financial Assistance Policy and publicize it (IRS §501(r)). If your bill is from a nonprofit hospital, ask for the FAP application before paying anything. How to apply →
- Surprise out-of-network bills. The federal No Surprises Act bans most out-of-network balance billing for emergency care and for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. When a bill is illegal →
- Credit reporting. The national bureaus no longer report paid medical collections, medical collections under $500, or those less than a year old.
Rules Arkansas sets for collectors
Beyond the federal FDCPA, Arkansas has its own collection statute — the Arkansas Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (Ark. Code Ann. § 17-24-501 et seq.). Enacted 2017 within the collection-agencies chapter, it substantially mirrors the federal FDCPA's prohibitions on harassment, false representations, and unfair practices and is enforceable by state regulators.
Yes — collection agencies located in Arkansas or contacting Arkansas debtors must be licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Collection Agencies (Ark. Code Ann. § 17-24-101 et seq.), now organized under the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing.
Under the FDCPA, within five days of first contacting you a collector must send a written validation notice (15 U.S.C. §1692g). If you dispute the debt in writing within 30 days of that notice, the collector must stop collection activity until it mails you verification. There is no legal deadline for the collector to respond — but until it does, it cannot lawfully keep collecting.
If a collector is calling: the first 24 hours
- Do not confirm the debt is yours on the phone, and do not make a payment yet — get everything in writing first.
- Ask for the collector’s company name, mailing address, and the amount claimed. Write down the date and time.
- Check the dates: if the last activity on the bill is older than 2 years, the debt may be time-barred in Arkansas.
- Send a written validation request within 30 days. Generate the letter free →
- If the bill is from a hospital, request an itemized bill and ask about financial assistance — billing errors are common and assistance is often retroactive.
Where to complain in Arkansas
Arkansas Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Division handles collection complaints at the state level. Federally, file with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — complaints become part of the public record collectors are judged on.
Common questions
How long can a debt collector pursue medical debt in Arkansas?
The statute of limitations on medical debt in Arkansas is 2 years (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-111 (5 years, written contracts); Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105 (3 years, oral contracts and open accounts); Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-106(b) (2 years, medical services)). Arkansas has a medical-debt-specific limitations statute: Ark. Code § 16-56-106(b) bars actions to recover charges for medical services (for services performed after March 31, 1985) after 2 years from the date the services were performed or from the date of the most recent partial payment, whichever is later. Acts 2021, No. 1032 would raise this to 5 years, but its § 2 made that amendment contingent on federal H.R. 5330 (116th Cong.) becoming law by January 1, 2026; that bill never passed, so the 5-year version never took effect. The 2-year medical period (shorter than the 3-year open-account and 5-year written-contract periods) governs ordinary medical bills. Sites reprinting the contingent 5-year text (e.g., FindLaw) are showing a version that is not in force. After that period, a lawsuit to collect can be challenged as time-barred, though collectors may still ask you to pay voluntarily.
Can I be sued for a medical bill after 2 years in Arkansas?
A collector can still file a lawsuit after the limitations period, but the statute of limitations is a defense: if you raise it, a time-barred case should be dismissed. It is not automatic — you must respond to the lawsuit and assert it. Never ignore a court summons.
Does making a small payment restart the clock in Arkansas?
Yes — Ark. Code § 16-56-111 (as amended 1989) provides that partial payment or a written acknowledgment of default tolls/restarts the written-contract period, and § 16-56-106(b) expressly restarts the medical-debt period from the most recent partial payment; an oral acknowledgment is not enough.
Does unpaid medical debt go on my credit report?
Since 2023, the three national credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) do not report paid medical collections, medical collections under $500, or medical collections less than a year old. Larger, older unpaid medical collections can still appear.
Do hospitals in Arkansas have to offer financial assistance?
Every nonprofit hospital in the United States is required by federal law (IRS Section 501(r)) to have a written Financial Assistance Policy and to tell patients about it. Arkansas adds its own protections on top — see the list on this page.
How do I dispute a medical bill that went to collections?
Send the collector a written debt validation request. Under the federal FDCPA (15 U.S.C. §1692g), if you dispute the debt in writing within 30 days of their first notice, the collector must stop collecting until it mails you verification of the debt. You can generate that letter free on this site — no account needed.
Where do I complain about a debt collector in Arkansas?
File with the Arkansas Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Division (https://arkansasag.gov/file-a-complaint/) and with the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Complaints are free and create a record.
Keep reading
- Statute of limitations on all debt in Arkansas
- Free debt validation letter generator — no account needed
- Look up a debt collector — CFPB complaint records for the biggest agencies
- Charity care: hospital financial assistance, applied
- Medical debt laws in Hawaii
- Medical debt laws in Louisiana
- Medical debt laws in Missouri
- Medical debt laws in New York
- Medical debt laws in Rhode Island
- Medical debt laws in Virginia
Legal information, not legal advice. Statutes change and courts interpret them — for advice on your situation, talk to a lawyer or your state’s legal aid office. Last reviewed AUG 2026.