Debt Collection in American Medicine — A History

2023/10/25 by Luke Messac · 1 voice
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Health Professions · #Healthcare Policy and Management #Healthcare cost, quality, practices #Primary Care and Health Outcomes

paper · doi:10.1056/nejmms2308571

openalex publication_date 2023/10/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

For centuries, U.S. physicians lamented their inability to collect on patients' bills, but since the 1980s, medical debts have become assets bought and sold by people with no role in patient care.

Discussions

• Luke Messac covers the long sweep of history leading to today's medical debt crisis. doi.org/10.1056/NEJMms2308571 [bsky, 2 points, 0 comments]

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