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by p1esk 1163 days ago
What happens if you refuse to pay?
4 comments

They give your rabies back.
It really bothers me that none of these stories seem to describe what legal theories are used to enforce these fabricated "debts" against the victims. It would seem there must be a whole collection of state laws that enable these practices, and I would think they would be a prime area of reform - if they were eliminated, providers would have to publish prices and form an actual contract (including a lack of duress and well-defined consideration), instead of being able to play this game of "nobody can tell you how much anything costs until the billing extorts you".
Debt collectors, A lien on their house, etc
Dispute the debt.

They can't put a lien on property without a court case and I want to see someone stand in front of a judge and justify an un-itemized 100k bill when their own public charge sheet shows that the service should cost <1000.

That doesn't work in the real world. Their army of lawyers can and will outspend you at every turn.

They will force you into bankruptcy when you should've declared bankruptcy to begin with.

There's no spending involved on your part. Don't spend a dime until you show up in court to defend yourself.

"I've been asking for 2 years for a breakdown to explain how what is listed on their website as a $600 charge became a 120k charge."

But do they want to outspend you? Especially if the case is not a sure win for them.
So the real disruption would be to DoS their lawyers by patients disputing absolutely everything questionable. Create an app to upload all the EOBs and make it dead simple to create grief for the hospital.
If they’re paying the lawyers regardless (as in paying them a salary), might as well give them some work.