All posts tagged "Diagnosisdebt"

McALESTER, Okla. — It took little more than an hour for Deborah Hackler to dispense with the tall stack of debt collection lawsuits that McAlester Regional Medical Center recently brought to small-claims court in this Oklahoma farm community. Hackler, a lawyer who sues patients on behalf of the hospital, buzzed through 51 cases, all but a handful uncontested, as is often the case. She bantered with the judge as she secured nearly $40,000 in judgments, plus 10% in fees for herself, according to court records. It’s a payday the hospital and Hackler have shared frequently over the past three deca......

Sharon Woodward used to travel the country as a medical technician. She made good money and prided herself on her skills. But in her mid-40s, Woodward retired after being diagnosed with a debilitating form of arthritis. Her condition required expensive drugs and regular medical care, which left her with more than $20,000 in medical debts. She had no option but to move out of her home and restart her life in a small town in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. At times, she has relied on food banks to get enough to eat. Woodward is one of 100 million people in the U.S. with health care debt. Watch her......