KC Hospital Sues Patients Over Unpaid Bills Amid Rising Uninsured
The Beacon reports on a Kansas City-area teacher sued by NKC Health over a $2,700 gallbladder surgery bill that grew to more than $3,500 with interest after she lost track of payments she believed were resolved. The hospital's law firm demanded a certified check and refused a payment plan once litigation began, though the hospital says it offers free and discounted care and payment plans before pursuing collections. NKC Health has filed 92 debt collection cases in Missouri this year and reported a $35 million operating loss, with nearly $78 million in written-off patient bills through August, a 57% jump it attributes to ACA subsidy cuts increasing the uninsured population. The case illustrates broader findings that more than a quarter of adults carry medical debt as hospitals turn to lawsuits to protect finances.