Q: Is it legal hospital billing to suggest you pay good faith payments on your medical bill?
While asking about financial assistance procedures, I asked if the bill would go to collections before they made a assistance decision. They said just make good faith payments until they decide. Does billing have the authority to halt collections from damaging your credit rating?
A:
As a general matter, hospital billing departments do have authority to call off collection actions. They have final say in choosing to vigorously pursue an account, or write it off and close it. But if they already turned the account over to a collection agency or attorney, the impact on credit rating could depend on what those entities did. If the matter is still in the early stages of confronting you on a bill before they turn it over to collections, ask them if they would give you a little breathing space in terms of what options the hospital's social workers might be able to come up with for you. It could be difficult to reach them with the current crisis. But sometimes social workers could look public insurance coverage IF that might be an option and your finances warrant. Keep your line of communication open. Good luck
Tim Akpinar
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