Nearly 13 million Pennsylvanians depend on hospitals when they are sick or injured. Unfortunately, hospitals are profiting while patients are struggling.

Americans are universally worried about the cost of health care, according to recent Ipsos-Consumers for Quality Care research, with 91% of patients concerned about receiving surprise bills from hospitals. In fact, 1.5 million Pennsylvanians have unpaid medical debt, and 59% of bankruptcy filers in America believe that medical debt was a contributor to their bankruptcy.

Despite this, consumers continue to fall victim to surprise bills and hospitals across the country are targeting patients with predatory actions like lawsuits, wage garnishment and home liens over unpaid medical debt.

Hospitals and the groups that represent them have largely failed to sufficiently address abusive billing practices; therefore, Consumers for Quality Care recently sent a letter to the National Governors Association urging governors to take action and protect their constituents.

As patients continue to struggle financially due to these toxic practices, Gov. Tom Wolf has an opportunity to stand up for the people of Pennsylvania by implementing reforms that cut consumer costs and increase transparency in the health care system.

Jim Manley
Board Member
Consumers for Quality Care
Catharpin, Va.

First Published: March 8, 2020, 5:00 a.m.