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Profiting from the Poor
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One thing the pandemic hasn’t stopped: Hospital debt collections
One thing the pandemic hasn’t stopped: Hospital debt collections
Baptist Memorial Hospital among the healthcare institutions nationwide still trying to garnish defendants’ wages.
MLK50 Memphis
Apr 28, 2020
MLK50 Methodist series ties for 1st in best of watchdog journalism
MLK50 Methodist series ties for 1st in best of watchdog journalism
Investigative Reporters & Editors honors ‘Profiting from the Poor’ for probe of aggressive debt collecting by city’s largest hospital
MLK50 Memphis
Apr 7, 2020
MLK50’s Thomas wins Selden Ring Award for her work on the series ‘Profiting From the Poor’
MLK50’s Thomas wins Selden Ring Award for her work on the series ‘P...
Investigative series cited for revealing Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare’s predatory debt collection practices.
MLK50 Memphis
Mar 2, 2020
For ‘exceptional prowess at profiteering,’ Methodist makes top 10 list of healthcare bad actors
For ‘exceptional prowess at profiteering,’ Methodist makes top 10 l...
Annual Shkreli Awards, named for infamous pharma bro, scolds several nonprofit hospitals for suing patients
MLK50 Memphis
Jan 7, 2020
Methodist Erased $11.9 Million in Hospital Debt For Thousands. Here Are Four Stories.
Methodist Erased $11.9 Million in Hospital Debt For Thousands. Here...
Meet several defendants who were forced to choose between paying a faith-based hospital and caring for their families
MLK50 Memphis
Dec 24, 2019
Count On It: How We Calculated $11.9m in Debt Cleared By Methodist
Count On It: How We Calculated $11.9m in Debt Cleared By Methodist
We asked Methodist Le Bonheur officials for a number, but they declined to say. We figured it out — carefully — ourselves.
MLK50 Memphis
Dec 24, 2019
Sen. Chuck Grassley Wants Methodist To Explain Why it Sued the Poor
Sen. Chuck Grassley Wants Methodist To Explain Why it Sued the Poor
After an MLK50-ProPublica investigation, the Senate Finance Committee chair criticized the hospital for suing low-income patients and…
MLK50 Memphis
Dec 10, 2019
Sued by an ER doctor in Memphis? You’ll Want to Read This.
Sued by an ER doctor in Memphis? You’ll Want to Read This.
Thousands of Baptist patients were sued by Southeastern Emergency Physicians. We made those lawsuits stop.
MLK50 Memphis
Dec 3, 2019
Private Equity-Owned Doctors Group Kept Suing the Poor — Until We Called
Private Equity-Owned Doctors Group Kept Suing the Poor — Until We C...
Baptist ER patients faced more lawsuits after Blackstone Group acquired TeamHealth, a massive Knoxville-based physician staffing firm.
MLK50 Memphis
Nov 27, 2019
MLK50-ProPublica Methodist Hospital Debt Series Packs a Punch
MLK50-ProPublica Methodist Hospital Debt Series Packs a Punch
Profiting From the Poor leads to systems change in Memphis, while resonating across social media platforms nationally
MLK50 Memphis
Oct 2, 2019
We Reported on Methodist Le Bonheur Suing Patients. It erased the debts of more than 6,500 patients
We Reported on Methodist Le Bonheur Suing Patients. It erased the d...
“ This is a blessing right here,” says the hospital housekeeper who owed the nonprofit health system $23,000
MLK50 Memphis
Sep 24, 2019
Beyond the Medical Debt Trap
Beyond the Medical Debt Trap
Low-income patients nationwide are speaking out about nonprofit hospitals that sue them. Federal officials are noticing.
MLK50 Memphis
Sep 13, 2019
‘Humbled’: Nonprofit Christian Hospital Dials Back Aggressive Debt Collection and Raises Wages…
‘Humbled’: Nonprofit Christian Hospital Dials Back Aggressive Debt ...
MLK50 and ProPublica found that Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare sued thousands of low-income patients, including dozens of its own…
MLK50 Memphis
Jul 30, 2019
Methodist to raise employee pay to $15 an hour, revise charity care policy
Methodist to raise employee pay to $15 an hour, revise charity care...
The changes follow MLK50-ProPublica investigation into the nonprofit hospital’s aggressive debt collection practices
MLK50 Memphis
Jul 30, 2019
Stop Suing Patients, Advocates Advise Memphis Nonprofit Hospital System
Stop Suing Patients, Advocates Advise Memphis Nonprofit Hospital Sy...
As Methodist nears the end of its 30-day review of collections activities, consumer advocates urge fundamental change
MLK50 Memphis
Jul 30, 2019
Meet The Methodist Board
Meet The Methodist Board
These are the folks charged with creating the way and the culture of how Memphis’ largest hospital system treats people
MLK50 Memphis
Jul 24, 2019
5 ways Methodist can repair damage from aggressive debt collections
5 ways Methodist can repair damage from aggressive debt collections
Healthcare advocates offer steps Methodist can take during its 30-day review to address flaws in its debt collection practices
MLK50 Memphis
Jul 19, 2019
In court today: Methodist drops some cases, sets up payment plans for others
In court today: Methodist drops some cases, sets up payment plans f...
One defendant said, “Will they work with me and dismiss the rest of it, in light of the things that have come out?”
MLK50 Memphis
Jul 17, 2019
The Methodist email exchange that started in 2018 led to this MLK50-ProPublica investigation
The Methodist email exchange that started in 2018 led to this MLK50...
The back-and-forth between MLK50’s Wendi C. Thomas and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare about collection practices
MLK50 Memphis
Jul 17, 2019
5 Things Methodist Healthcare Can Do To Fix Their Debt Collection Mess
5 Things Methodist Healthcare Can Do To Fix Their Debt Collection Mess
Attorney Jenifer Bosco at the National Consumer Law Center shares some concrete steps the hospital system can take now
MLK50 Memphis
Jul 11, 2019
‘This is such a blessing:’ Defendants relieved as Methodist drops lawsuits, stops garnishments
‘This is such a blessing:’ Defendants relieved as Methodist drops l...
Judge tells debtors that the lawsuits remain in limbo, but for now “You ain’t gotta pay Methodist nothing. ”
MLK50 Memphis
Jul 10, 2019
Methodist Hospital Suspends Debt Collection Lawsuits Amid Furor Over Suing Its Own Employees
Methodist Hospital Suspends Debt Collection Lawsuits Amid Furor Ove...
A MLK50-ProPublica investigation found that the Christian hospital had filed 8,300 lawsuits in the past five years.
MLK50 Memphis
Jul 3, 2019
BREAKING: Methodist Suspends Debt Collection Lawsuits Amid Furor Over Suing Its Own Employees
BREAKING: Methodist Suspends Debt Collection Lawsuits Amid Furor Ov...
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare is re-evaluating its policy after an MLK50-ProPublica investigation
MLK50 Memphis
Jul 3, 2019
9 Times Methodist’s CEO’s Statement on Investigation Missed the Mark
9 Times Methodist’s CEO’s Statement on Investigation Missed the Mark
Analysis: Michael Ugwueke semi-clapped back at MLK50-ProPublica’s investigation into the hospital’s debt collection practices. But…
MLK50 Memphis
Jul 2, 2019
Debt-Collection Revelations Drive Review at Methodist Le Bonheur
Debt-Collection Revelations Drive Review at Methodist Le Bonheur
As Criticism Mounts, Methodist CEO Promises to Re-Evaluate Financial Assistance Polices That Land Poor Patients in Court
MLK50 Memphis
Jul 1, 2019
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