Chamber Vision September and October 2017 | Page 33

Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau
September & October 2017
33
Got Medical Debt?
Medical debt can be an
waived for qualifying households
emotional roller coaster for and Burk said no one is ever
people who are already suffering turned away because of inability to
with health issues or a sudden pay for HCCI’s counseling services.
accident. The Consumer Financial
Newman Regional Health has
Protection Bureau (CFPB) reports
(January 2017) that 20% of the US
population will be contacted by
medical debt collectors this year
and they will collect $21 billion
from consumers with medical debt,
collectively.
Newman Regional Health
understands how debilitating it can
be for families who are coping with
health issues to also sort through
medical bills. Newman Regional
is partnering with Housing and
Credit Counseling, Inc. (HCCI)
to present a free program on
Thursday, September 28 at
6:00 - 7:30 PM at the hospital’s
Conference Center. The program
will feature a local attorney talking
about how and when medical
debts may be collected through a
collection attorney. Other panel
speakers include Danica Case,
Director of Patient Access for
Newman Regional Health and
also invited Flint Hills Community
Chris Burk, lead counselor for
HCCI, explaining the steps people
can take to resolve medial debt
issues.
Burk said panel members
will address questions from the
audience and talk about the
possible payment options patients
have and financial assistance that
may be available through a bank
loan or arrangements with the
healthcare provider. The panel
will discuss collection procedures
and explain how the patient’s
credit is negatively impacted
when medical bills go into a
court ordered judgement. Burk
will talk about consumer credit
counseling through HCCI and
how debt management plans or
other repayment options may be
arranged. HCCI’s counseling fee of
$50 for six months of counseling is
Health Center and other local
groups to display materials and
representatives will be available
to answer questions about local
healthcare resources.
Newman invited Housing
and Credit Counseling because
HCCI routinely counsels people
regarding credit card debt, student
loan debt and mortgage foreclosure
and HCCI can also help people
understand their medical bills and
navigate the complicated billing
system that involves insurance
companies, patient co-payments
and other third party payments.
There is no charge but
registration is suggested to receive
handouts. To register, contact
McKenzie Cinelli, Newman
Regional Health at 620-343-6800
x 2524 or call HCCI at 800-383-
0217. www.hcci-ks.org