A story by ProPublica and NPR and a Senate investigation prompt a Missouri nonprofit hospital to change its policies and forgive thousands of patients’ debts. But without similar scrutiny, it’s unclear if other hospitals that sue the poor will change.
News Story (NATIONAL)
Paul Kiel, Chris Arnold
ProPublica, National Public Radio (NPR)
June 1, 2016
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Tags: Consumer Protection, Debt Collection
Organizations mentioned/involved: National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), Indiana Legal Services (ILS)
News Story (NATIONAL)
Paul Kiel, Chris Arnold
ProPublica, National Public Radio (NPR)
June 1, 2016
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Tags: Consumer Protection, Debt Collection
Organizations mentioned/involved: National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), Indiana Legal Services (ILS)
DETAILS
For years, Heartland Regional Medical Center, a nonprofit hospital in the small city of St. Joseph, Missouri, had quietly sued thousands of its low-income patients over their unpaid bills.
But after an investigation by ProPublica and NPR prompted further scrutiny by Sen. Charles Grassley, the hospital overhauled its financial assistance policy late last year and forgave the debts of thousands of former patients.
The hospital “deserves credit for doing the right thing after its practices were scrutinized,” Grassley, R-Iowa, wrote last week in a letter to his Senate colleagues, “but it should not take Congressional and press attention to ensure that tax-exempt, charitable organizations are focused on their mission of helping those in need.”