Patients who owe providers $500 or less in out-of-pocket expenses tend to pay down the bill. Those who owe more than $500 are evidently inclined to ignore collections efforts and pay nothing at all.

Maternity care is in danger of vanishing from rural communities across the U.S., and two addressable if not reversible trends largely account for the peril. 

Carrie Redick, an ICU nurse for nearly 20 years, said understanding more about financial data improved her ability to acquire funding and other resources for her program when necessary. 

Patient advocates state the updated governance would not only integrate coverage for underserved populations but also clamp down on the “games” that Medicare Advantage plans have been known to “play” with Medicaid patients.

The largest hospital system in a large Western state is feeling the heat of negative publicity over how it goes after patients who owe the system money.

Among the 20 million-plus Americans who have unpaid medical bills totaling more than $250, almost a quarter—5 million people—owe between $2,001 and $5,000.  

The company is seeking the court’s approval to use cash on hand to cover operating costs without disrupting patient care or further endangering employees’ jobs.

Despite care concerns in recent years, private equity firms like Apollo are continuing to scoop up hospitals across the country.