California Medical Billing Advocates
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To reduce or eliminate unjust medical bills before they become crippling debt.
- Income
- $4,300
- Spending
- $5,119
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $5,119 spent. Medical Bills Negotiation and Financial Education: Given the complexity of the U.S. healthcare system, patients often receive surprise medical bills despite having health insurance. Furthermore, many patients who are underinsured or uninsured receive grossly inflated medical bills directly from hospitals and doctors. Many patients cannot afford to pay these bills and let them turn into medical debt, which is one of the leading causes of personal bankruptcy in the U.S. CALMBA believes that many of these bills are excessive and unjust to the patient. CALMBA's mission is to reduce or eliminate medical bills, by negotiating lower medical bills on the patient's behalf using financial, legal, and medical tactics. CALMBA focuses its efforts on helping economically disadvantaged, low income, and poor patients. CALMBA started operations at the end of September 2019. During 2019, CALMBA received 271 inquiries for assistance with medical bills, of which we accepted 161 cases totaling $3.7 million in medical bills. For the cases that completed negotiations in 2019, the average bill reduction was $6,400 per patient, while the estimated cost to negotiate the case averaged $350, for an 18x social return on investment. As part of the medical bill negotiation process, CALMBA develops a deep understanding of the patients' financial profile, including income, expenses, and assets. As a result, CALMBA also offers patients financial advice and education on financial literacy, budgeting, and debt management with the goal of putting the patient on a more stable financial footing going forward.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.