Johns Hopkins Hospital Faces Scrutiny for Suing Low-Income Patients

Johns Hopkins Hospital, a major healthcare provider in Baltimore, has come under fire for filing over 2,400 lawsuits against patients struggling with unpaid medical bills between 2009 and 2018. This legal action primarily targeted low-income individuals and African American residents, many of whom live in the hospital's immediate vicinity.

A report released by the American unions AFL-CIO and National Nurses United, along with the community advocacy group Coalition for a Humane Hopkins, indicated that these lawsuits collectively represented $4.8 million in alleged debt. The median amount owed by patients who faced these lawsuits was reported to be $1,438.

Notably, nearly half of the lawsuits—46%—were filed against residents of Baltimore. The report highlighted that the zip codes with the highest number of lawsuits predominantly encompass low-income and African American communities. In fact, nine out of ten of these zip codes have poverty rates exceeding the state average.

Johns Hopkins Hospital has a documented history of pursuing legal action for unpaid medical bills. An investigative series by the Baltimore Sun in 2008 revealed that the hospital and its affiliated Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center had filed a staggering 14,000 lawsuits against patients from 2003 to 2008. Although the frequency of lawsuits decreased for a time, recent trends indicate a resurgence over the past five years.

The practice of suing patients for medical debt has faced criticism, particularly as not-for-profit hospitals benefit from tax exemptions at various governmental levels. This issue is not isolated to Baltimore; similar lawsuits have been reported across the United States. For instance, an investigation found that a hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri, filed 11,000 lawsuits in just four years, while another in Evansville, Indiana, initiated 20,000 lawsuits.

Medical debt is classified as a low-priority debt by the National Consumer Law Center, often overshadowed by more pressing debts like credit card balances or mortgages. A 2016 study indicated that approximately one in six Americans carries medical debt, totaling around $81 billion.

While measures to curb unexpected medical billing have been proposed in Congress, legislative gridlock has stymied progress. As healthcare costs continue to escalate, the average American family spends about $28,000 annually on healthcare, even with insurance coverage.

Reported by HarborBeat based on The Guardian (source).