… “money-losing” HMO contracts.

They article said:

“The private, not-for-profit, 199-bed hospital said that it expected to emerge from bankruptcy within a year and that all services would remain open…It also plans to emerge with a new business model that excludes HMO patients in favor of patients with preferred provider organization (PPO) health insurance.”

Downing reported losses totaling $100 million due to unfavorable HMO contracts which pay hospitals a set fee per patient …

Permalink: /medical_bills/hospital-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy-to-escape-hmo-contracts/

… that there are other ways to slash through your medical debt. Consider speaking with the doctor or hospital to settle a debt for a lesser amount. Many hospitals and even doctors are willing to negotiate with uninsured patients. And of course, medical debt is dischargeable in bankruptcy. To find out how bankruptcy can help you speak with a Dallas-Fort Worth bankruptcy attorney today.

Permalink: /fort_worth_bankruptcy/in-the-hospital-with-no-health-insurance-whatever-you-do-dont-charge-it/

… their Chapter 11 bankruptcy Renaissance Healthcare Systems has agreed to the foreclosure of a hospital in Grand Prairie that it had planned to reopen this year.

The article said:

The property consists of a 233,000-square-foot hospital building and a 30,000-square-foot office building on 22 acres of land. Renaissance Healthcare had said it was redeveloping the property into a state-of-the-art facility with 150 private rooms, a cardiac-care unit, 12-bed emergency room, in-patient …

Permalink: /chapter-11-bankruptcy/shaky-economy-causes-hospital-closure-more-to-come/

… in the Dallas Morning News, even if you have medical insurance and go to an “in-network” hospital, you could still end up with a ton of medical debt due to a practice called “balance billing.” In a nutshell, balance billing equals more medical debt for consumers who use “in-network” hospitals who in turn employ “out-of-network” medical staff. The medical professional may not have a contract with your insurer so they charge any fee they choose, the insurer is not obligated …

Tags: Health insurance Hospital Medicine

… wooden knuckles and threatened with a gun.  Both men have been treated and released from a local hospital. The suspects are facing prosecution.

This story is a truly sad and tragic one.  Most homeowners facing foreclosure don’t turn to violent means; but this incident is a symptom of a large amount of anger that is growing amongst Americans facing foreclosure. When the foreclosure crisis first began many mortgage lenders offered “cash for keys” in an effort to assuage angry …

… hit with medical bills totaling about $70,000 – $8,000 from his surgeon and $62,000 from the hospital. “At first, all of them went to collections because I couldn’t pay any of them,” said Smith.”

Fortunately for Smith, the hospital reduced his medical debt to about $15,000 which he was able to pay off three years ago; however, the medical debt impact on his credit is still there. Despite paying off his debts, his credit score dropped significantly and now he’s having …

… was feeling stressed and overwhelmed by all of the medical debt that was created by a series of hospital emergency room visits, ambulance rides, surgery, doctors visits and other medical related expenses. She just couldn’t take it anymore and finally made the decision to get relief through bankruptcy.  The Star-Telegram tells her story:

“Jones said she thought it would be easy to get private insurance when she left her customer service job at Wells Fargo in 2003 to open her own …

… of their condition. Those people who are denied medical insurance don’t just avoid going to the hospital; when they get sick, they are going to the hospital and wracking up hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt, forcing them into bankruptcy. Although the exact number of bankruptcy filings caused by medical debt is not known, a study conducted by researchers at Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School and Ohio University examined bankruptcy cases for 2007 and concluded that …

… have suffered job losses this year, including 23 workers at the Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth.

The article said:

“The layoffs, announced to employees on Sept. 8, are an attempt to adjust the company’s work force to changing demands for patient care and increased charity care, particularly at the Fort Worth hospital, spokeswoman Whitney Jodry said…”This not going to impact patient care,” she said. “The company is not in trouble financially. We are …

… playing games.” Then, presumably referring to the emergency aircraft that flew McLeod to the hospital after his heart attack, the caller said: “Why don’t you have that helicopter pick you up and bring that payment to the office.”

This is probably one of the most disgusting things I have ever heard. The creditor blatantly and maliciously harassed a disabled debtor who was clearly unable to pay and suffering immensely. I wish this family had considered bankruptcy to protect their …

The Consumer Law & Policy blog has a very revealing article about a judge in Indiana that took it upon herself to give indigent debtors a choice–”pay up” or “go to jail.”

The blog writer provided the transcript of an exchange between the debtor and the judge:

The Court: “So we’re here today for you to explain what you’re going to do to pay this off.”

Mr. Button: …

Comment by Robyn: … University Hospital (run by the state of Oregon) …

… it in for semi-regular checkups may well find their financial resources depleted by one costly hospital stay or surgery.

Threats of foreclosure or repossession.  Is your mortgage lender threatening foreclosure?  Has the dealer repossessed your car?  Losing your home or mode of transportation can well be the first domino that leads to an out-of-control spiral you may not be able to make it out of.  If you don’t have reliable transportation, you may lose your job.  Without a roof …