Kansas and Missouri could and should help rein in medical debt, researchers say

Neither state tells health care providers how long they must wait before suing patients. Researchers say consumers need clarity on that and other points.
Kansas and Missouri don’t do enough to protect their residents from racking up medical bills, researchers say.

A new project from the University of Arizona and University of Utah and the Pew Charitable Trusts digs into consumer protections for people getting medical care.

Both states have weak policies, the report says, leaving patients vulnerable to high bills from doctors, hospitals and laboratories that can quickly add up.

Gabriela Elizondo-Craig, a postgraduate fellow at the University of Arizona College of Law, says states don’t need to wait for Congress to act.

“There are so many important protections that can be put in place by the state legislatures,” she said. “Of all debt collection lawsuits, two out of three is a medical debt lawsuit in this country.”