Local governments around the country are using Covid relief funds to eliminate medical debt for their communities. And thats great: medical debt is a huge problem. Its bad for hospitals and patients alike, and its the leading cause of bankruptcy for families in the United States.
But using Covid funds to pay off existing medical debt while helpful in the short-run does not address the root cause of the problem.
The Affordable Care Act mandates nonprofit hospitals to provide financial assistance programs. These programs, when used effectively, can significantly mitigate the burden of medical debt for patients grappling with healthcare affordability. However, these programs often go underused, leading unpaid hospital bills to become th…
Read the full article at: https://medcitynews.com/2023/07/how-hospitals-can-help-prevent-medical-debt/