Clark Howard Warns About the Newest Trend to Occur in Hospitals

Clark Howard, whose show is heard weeknights from 10p-Midnight on KFYO, today wrote about something I had no idea was happening in hospitals.

Howard's article focuses on hospitals taking measures to dissuade patients who may be bad credit risks from getting treatment in their facility.

The attorney general of Minnesota is investigating allegations that some hospitals are sending third party debt collectors dressed as employees into emergency rooms. During triage, these collectors will run a credit check on you to determine if you're likely to pay your bill.

Could you imagine that happening to you?  The stress of being in the emergency room, the stress of having to answer questions on the fly from nurses and doctors as you being treated, or in triage. And then all of a sudden, you might have to answer questions about your financial life too.

I hope this trend is snuffed out before it spreads to anywhere else.  What's the point of paying taxes for hospital districts, if you can get booted before you're treated?