this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2024
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North Carolina hospital company forgives debts of 11,500 people after NBC News report (www.nbcnews.com)
submitted 1 month ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/health@lemmy.world
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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.

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[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 25 points 1 month ago (2 children)

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.

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Hi thanks so much for sharing that personal information. How are you doing now? Hoping for the best outcome for you

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The lump I discovered in my neck was my left superclavicular lymph node (the lymph node just above my collar bone at the base of my neck.) After two months (two rounds of two chemo treatments) the lump in my neck is gone. I also had tumors in the lymph nodes in front of my heart. I'm feeling pretty good. I haven't had any nausea, though I'm feeling a bit queasy these days. I'm half way between chemo treatments. I get them every other Friday. I hadn't lost much hair but noticed a couple of days ago that half of my eyebrows were missing. They are shrinking from the outside in toward the bridge of my nose. I look like I have bushy Rotweiller eyebrows. I get another PET scan in two weeks to see how the tumors are reacting. When I'm done with chemo in January I will get radiation to mop up the last of the tumors if there is any evidence of active desease.

So, all in all I'm doing really well. Thanks for asking.

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You're welcome and thanks again for sharing. A lot of people wouldn't be comfortable doing that. I hope the lump being gone is indicative of great news!

Yeah, the chemicals can be pretty brutal. A friend who went through chemo said everything tasted like dirty socks smell, and oddly, dill. My nephew didn't complain about taste so much, but subsisted almost wholly on yogurt, since it was the only thing he could keep down, and was also really tired a lot. If the eyebrows bother you, there are fill -in kits, idk if that would work for you. Wishing you the best possible outcome.

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Thanks.

I have a PICC line in which makes the infusions much easier. When the flush the line once a week and before the infusion it's just saline (water and sodium chloride) but it smells like whiteboard markers to me. I think it increases the conductivity in your nose and mouth and I can really smell hospital smell.

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Very welcome. You mean the saline or chemicals? Saline would make sense, I guess.

Eta; quick search https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/you-asked/why-can-i-taste-saline-when-its-injected-my-iv

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Very interesting article, thank you. I never taste anything but I smell a chemical smell that I liken to blackboard markers immediately. I guess it going to my lungs and me breathing it out would explain it. Thank you very much for the article.

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 2 points 1 month ago

Very welcome.

[–] smokinliver@sopuli.xyz 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

All the best, get well soon and a speedy recovery <3

[–] MapleEngineer@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month 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.

[–] dohpaz42@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

How fucked up this is not withstanding, I can sort of understand that a business has costs and needs to recoup those costs if their customers fail to pay.

But, this is not just any business: it’s a non-profit that is tax exempt with the requirement that they perform charity among other requirements. Suing and putting liens on houses is not charitable.

First, hospitals absolutely need to have clear and transparent pricing. And if hospitals still want to sue people and put liens on their houses, they should lose their tax exempt status.

[–] JimmyBigSausage@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago

Oops 😗