Hospital Lawsuits Over Unpaid Bills Increased By 37 Percent In Wisconsin From 2001 To 2018

Area of Science:

• Health Law
• Public Health
• Healthcare Economics

Background:

• Hospitals increasingly pursue legal action to recover patient debt.
• Understanding trends in medical debt litigation is crucial for patient advocacy and policy.
• Previous research has not fully detailed the scope and demographic impact of these lawsuits in Wisconsin.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in Wisconsin hospital lawsuits for unpaid medical bills between 2001 and 2018.
• To identify demographic and geographic disparities in these litigation patterns.
• To assess the impact of these lawsuits on vulnerable patient populations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Wisconsin court records from 2001-2018.
• Quantified the rate of hospital lawsuits per 1,000 residents annually.
• Analyzed lawsuit data for disparities based on patient race and county-level socioeconomic and demographic factors.

Main Results:

• A 37% increase in hospital lawsuits for unpaid medical bills was observed from 2001 to 2018.
• The rate of lawsuits rose from 1.12 to 1.53 per 1,000 residents.
• Lawsuits were disproportionately filed against Black patients and individuals residing in poorer, less densely populated counties.

Conclusions:

• Wisconsin hospitals have escalated their pursuit of unpaid medical bills through litigation.
• Significant racial and socioeconomic disparities exist in who is targeted by these lawsuits.
• Findings highlight potential inequities in healthcare access and financial burden on marginalized communities.