Medical debt is one of the leading reasons for families facing financial crisis. It is unacceptable when that debt should never have been incurred.
As Attorney General, I am committed to fighting for all Washingtonians' access to affordable health care — that means holding health care providers and insurance companies accountable when they violate laws ensuring vulnerable families have access to financial assistance.
Hospitals that benefit from tax-exemptions are required to provide financial assistance for low-income patients struggling to afford their medical bills. My team investigated and discovered that Providence hospitals, including Swedish, directed employees not to mention the availability of financial assistance, and knowingly referred more than $70 million worth of bills from eligible patients to collections. These illegal actions had huge impacts for thousands of Washingtonians.
Read more about the lawsuit from The Seattle Times.
Many Washingtonians struggle to pay their health care bills. They are afraid to seek the care they need because of unforeseen out-of-pocket costs. Our health care system requires significant reform. That's why, in addition to holding providers and insurance companies accountable to the laws we already have, I'm working with the Legislature to expand eligibility for hospital financial assistance in order to improve access to affordable health care, and protect families from unexpected hospital bills they cannot afford.
Thank you,
Bob
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