Investigation: Many U.S. hospitals sue patients for debts or threaten their credit

An examination of billing policies and practices at more than 500 hospitals across the country shows widespread reliance on aggressive collection tactics.

Investigation: Many U.S. hospitals sue patients for debts or threaten their credit
An investigation of more than 500 U.S. hospitals show that many use aggressive practices to collect on unpaid medical bills. More than two-thirds have policies that allow them to sue patients or take other legal actions against them, such as garnishing wages.This includes high-profile medical centers such as the Mayo Clinic.

An examination of billing policies and practices at more than 500 hospitals across the country shows widespread reliance on aggressive collection tactics.

(Image credit: Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images)