UVA Health cancels thousands of lawsuits over medical bills

Details: The cancellation will apply to patients who are at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. This includes a patient who makes less than $51,520 or someone in a family of four who makes $106,000 or less.

• The health system will also stop blocking enrollment for university students with outstanding balances.
• UVA Health also said it is in the process of establishing an ombudsperson’s office to help patients determine manageable payment options and to impartially assess an individual’s medical costs. 

Background: UVA Health said last year it would no longer sue future patients over medical bills. Reforms came after KHN published an investigation in 2019 that found UVA Health had sued patients 36,000 times over a period of six years for more than $100 million.