As nonprofits have expanded their efforts, they re taking a dual approach — paying off debt and pushing for legislative change to prevent or alleviate that debt, such as by expanding Medicaid eligibility.
Nikiesha Barnett had knee surgery in 2006 and took unpaid leave from her job as a Georgia hospital coordinator while she was recovering. When Barnett wasn’t able to keep up with the payments for the surgery, she ended up owing about $4,500. That debt lingered for almost 14 years until…
An examination of billing policies and practices at more than 500 hospitals across the country shows widespread reliance on aggressive collection tactics.