Financial Assistance Policy, Hospital Charity Care, and Medical Debt in Collections

Was Oregon’s financial assistance policy associated with a lower percentage of the population with medical debt in collections and increased hospital charity care spending?In this cohort study of 582 hospitals and 689 counties, Oregon’s financial assistance policy was associated with a larger decrease in the percentage of the population with medical debt in collections in the first 3 years after implementation (relative to comparison states). The policy was also associated with larger charity care spending during the same period.These findings suggest that Oregon’s financial assistance policy was associated with reductions in medical debt.

Corresponding Author: Tatiane Santos, PhD, MPH, Tulane University Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St, Ste 1900, New Orleans, LA 70112 (tsantos3@tulane.edu).

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