Hey, it’s the BEST time to support this show with a donation. Thanks to NewsMatch, any gift you make, up to $1,000, will be doubled. It’s a great deal, and it will set us up to kick maximum butt in 2024. Here’s the link, go for it!


We’ve been working on this investigation all year, with our partners at Scripps News and the Baltimore Banner. 


For years, we’ve been hearing about hospitals suing patients over unpaid medical bills – sometimes even in bulk, by the hundreds or thousands at a time. 


Many of the patients getting sued are already facing financial hardship, or like one couple we interviewed, already in bankruptcy. 


Judgments against patients in these suits can be life changing. But according to experts, these lawsuits don’t recoup a ton of lost revenue for hospitals. So why do they happen? And what if hospitals stopped doing it completely? 


In this episode, we talk to a former sales rep for a medical-debt collections agency — who now steers hospitals away from efforts to collect money, via lawsuits or other means, from folks who just don’t have it.


He tells hospitals: This is better for your bottom line. 


Stay tuned for part two, coming in two weeks. 


… and to preview some of what’s in it — plus a whole lot more excellent reporting — check out the Baltimore Banner’s story: Maryland hospitals stopped suing patients with unpaid bills. Will they start again?


This series is produced in partnership with the McGraw Center for Business Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York.


… and supported by the Fund for Investigative Journalism.


OOH: And don’t forget. It’s prime time to make a donation and support this show. 


Here’s a transcript of this episode.

Hey, it’s the BEST time to <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">support this show with a donation</a>. Thanks to NewsMatch, any gift you make, up to $1,000, will be doubled. It’s a great deal, and it will set us up to kick maximum butt in 2024. Here’s the link, <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">go for it</a>! We’ve been working on this investigation all year, with our partners at <a href="https://scrippsnews.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Scripps News</a> and the <a href="https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Baltimore Banner</a>.&nbsp; For years, we’ve been hearing about hospitals suing patients over unpaid medical bills – sometimes even in bulk, by the hundreds or thousands at a time.&nbsp; Many of the patients getting sued are already facing financial hardship, or like one couple we interviewed, already in bankruptcy.&nbsp; Judgments against patients in these suits can be life changing. But according to experts, these lawsuits don’t recoup a ton of lost revenue for hospitals. So why do they happen? And what if hospitals stopped doing it completely?&nbsp; In this episode, we talk to a former sales rep for a medical-debt collections agency — who now steers hospitals away from efforts to collect money, via lawsuits or other means, from folks who just don’t have it. He tells hospitals: This is better for your bottom line.&nbsp; Stay tuned for part two, coming in two weeks.&nbsp; … and to preview some of what’s in it — plus a whole lot more excellent reporting — check out the Baltimore Banner’s story:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/public-health/maryland-hospital-lawsuits-5ITYJF4PA5GPPHYIFMLOC7344Q/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Maryland hospitals stopped suing patients with unpaid bills. Will they start again?</a> This series is produced in partnership with the <a href="https://www.mcgrawcenter.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">McGraw Center for Business Journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York</a>. … and supported by the <a href="https://fij.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fund for Investigative Journalism</a>. OOH: And don’t forget. It’s prime time to <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">make a donation and support this show</a>.&nbsp; Here’s a transcript of this episode.

An Arm and a Leg is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.

If you’ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you’re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting — you’re not always helpless. We don’t have all the answers, but we’ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart. 

An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with KFF Health News and distributed in partnership with KUOW.

You can support An Arm and a Leg by donating at armandalegshow.com/support/

Show Credits: Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.

An Arm and a Leg&nbsp;is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.
If you&rsquo;ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you&rsquo;re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting &mdash; you&rsquo;re not always helpless. We don&rsquo;t have all the answers, but we&rsquo;ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart.&nbsp;
An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/">KFF Health News</a> and distributed in partnership with <a href="https://www.kuow.org/">KUOW</a>.
You can support An Arm and a Leg&nbsp;by donating at <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">armandalegshow.com/support/</a>
<hr>
Show Credits:&nbsp;Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.

An Arm and a Leg

Why do they do it? There isn’t much money in it.

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