A giant US hospital chain says it’s leading the fight against medical debt. Not all patients agree

Many patients say they were harmed by Advocate Health's billing and collection practices - even as the health system has canceled thousands of liens against patients' homes

Advocate Health, one of America's largest hospital chains, says it is working hard to confront one of the biggest problems in US healthcare today - promoting itself as a leader in the effort to solve the nation's medical debt crisis".

The non-profit hospital system says it has revamped its billing and collection practices and boosted the number of patients who qualify for charity care. In September 2024, it announced it would take the bold step" of canceling thousands of debt judgments held as liens against patients' homes in multiple states, including North Carolina, where the fast-growing chain is headquartered.