Posted on Jun 15, 2022
Kansas and Missouri could and should help rein in medical debt, researchers say
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Neither state tells health care providers how long they must wait before suing patients. Researchers say consumers need clarity on that and other points.
Kansas and Missouri don’t do enough to protect their residents from racking up medical bills, researchers say.
A new project from the University of Arizona and University of Utah and the Pew Charitable Trusts digs into consumer protections for people getting medical care.
Both states have weak policies, the report says, leaving patients vulnerable to high bills from doctors, hospitals and laboratories that can quickly add up.
Gabriela Elizondo-Craig, a postgraduate fellow at the University of Arizona College of Law, says states don’t need to wait for Congress to act.
“There are so many important protections that can be put in place by the state legislatures,” she said. “Of all debt collection lawsuits, two out of three is a medical debt lawsuit in this country.”
Kansas and Missouri don’t do enough to protect their residents from racking up medical bills, researchers say.
A new project from the University of Arizona and University of Utah and the Pew Charitable Trusts digs into consumer protections for people getting medical care.
Both states have weak policies, the report says, leaving patients vulnerable to high bills from doctors, hospitals and laboratories that can quickly add up.
Gabriela Elizondo-Craig, a postgraduate fellow at the University of Arizona College of Law, says states don’t need to wait for Congress to act.
“There are so many important protections that can be put in place by the state legislatures,” she said. “Of all debt collection lawsuits, two out of three is a medical debt lawsuit in this country.”
Kansas and Missouri could and should help rein in medical debt, researchers say
Posted from kcur.org
Lawsuit
Medical
Health
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."This year, a Commonwealth Report found that Kansas and Missouri count among the five states where people with work-based insurance face average premiums and deductibles topping $9,000 a year(link is external).
Year after year, American health care spending continues to grow at a fast clip — much faster than inflation. The Health Care Cost Institute(link is external) has found that the main reason is simply that hospitals and other places hike the prices. In other words, the increase in spending can’t be explained by Americans going to the doctor more often.
Meanwhile, the RAND Corporation(link is external) think tank has found evidence of surprisingly high prices at some Kansas City hospitals — among the highest in the country.
New federal rules requiring hospitals to make their prices public are meant to help, but many Kansas hospitals have been slow to comply(link is external)."
..."This year, a Commonwealth Report found that Kansas and Missouri count among the five states where people with work-based insurance face average premiums and deductibles topping $9,000 a year(link is external).
Year after year, American health care spending continues to grow at a fast clip — much faster than inflation. The Health Care Cost Institute(link is external) has found that the main reason is simply that hospitals and other places hike the prices. In other words, the increase in spending can’t be explained by Americans going to the doctor more often.
Meanwhile, the RAND Corporation(link is external) think tank has found evidence of surprisingly high prices at some Kansas City hospitals — among the highest in the country.
New federal rules requiring hospitals to make their prices public are meant to help, but many Kansas hospitals have been slow to comply(link is external)."
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