Terry Belk, who owed thousands for cancer treatment for himself and his late wife, said he was stunned by a call from Atrium Health telling him the lien on his home was canceled.

Less than a week after NBC News detailed how the hospital system Atrium Health of North Carolina aggressively pursued former patients’ medical debts, placing liens on their homes to collect on hospital bills, the nonprofit company announced it would cancel those obligations and forgive the unpaid debts associated with them. Some 11,500 liens on people’s homes in North Carolina and five other states will be released, Atrium’s parent company, Advocate Health, said with some dating back 20 years or more.

Advocate Health said it is changing its policy now as “the next logical step” following a 2022 decision to stop filing lawsuits and property liens to collect on patients’ medical debts. The company declined NBC News’ request for an interview about the shift.

  • Maple Engineer@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    10 days ago

    I discovered a lump in my neck in April. I was diagnosed with Hodgins Lymphoma in June. Between those two dates I got an ultrasound, chest x-ray, CT, and a biopsy. I saw three doctors, a diagnostic oncologist, and a haematology oncologist who ordered a PET scan, respiratory study, and echo cardiogram. I met with her a week after the tests were completed and started chemo the next day.

    Total out of pocket to me: CAD$0.

    Total charged to my work health insurance: CAD$0.

    The US medical system is grotesque.

    Americans are farmed for profit by medical insurance companies which do nothing but act as profit extracting middlemen.

      • Maple Engineer@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        6 days ago

        Thanks. I’m two rounds (months) of two treatments each and the lump in my neck is gone. They say that they have a 92% chance of curing me and my going on to live a full live.

        Fingers crossed.