Transforming hospital financial aid policies can significantly reduce patient debt and improve health outcomes.
Nonprofit hospitals, rooted in community service, are required to publicize their financial assistance policies.
However, the current application process is bogged down by unnecessary paperwork.
The IRS can help streamline this by allowing hospitals to verify patient income directly and inform patients upfront that they won't receive a bill.
We can also tackle existing debt, benefiting both hospitals and patients.
What changes do you think would make the biggest impact?
Luke Messac, MD, PhD, an Attending Physician at Brigham and Womens Hospital and Instructor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School, testified before the Senate HELP Committee.
