Ferguson adds collection agencies to Providence suit
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, August 10th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Tuesday he has amended his lawsuit against 14 Providence-affiliated hospitals by adding two collection agencies that work for the hospitals. The consumer protection lawsuit filed in King County Superior Court stems from Providence’s charity care and collections practices impacting tens of thousands of patients and hundreds of millions of dollars in medical debt.
When sending a first collection notice, collection agencies must include written notice that an individual may be eligible for charity care. Acting as Providence’s agents, Harris & Harris and Optimum Outcomes illegally failed to inform patients about the availability of charity care discounts before aggressively collecting on their medical debt. Ferguson said that was not done.
He also said the two collection agencies illegally failed to inform patient of their right to request certain information about their debt.
“Families live in fear that an unexpected medical emergency could result in crushing medical debt,” Ferguson said. “Collection agencies cannot deceive Washingtonians about their legal right to access medical financial assistance. I fought to expand our charity care law so more individuals can have access to affordable health care — I am going to fight to ensure those laws are honored.”
Any person who paid for medical services or is in collections for a medical bill from a Providence or Swedish hospital or Kadlec Regional Medical Center and believes they may be eligible for charity care should contact Attorney General’s Office Investigator Bau Vang at 206-516-2989 or by email at bau.vang@atg.wa.gov.
