Americans collectively owe at least $220 billion in medical debt today, with 1 in 6 people reporting debt for medical or dental bill. How does all this debt change the relationships and culture of medicine? What is the impact of being sued by a hospital? Of being sent into bankruptcy for care? How did we get here and what comes next?
This episode of Remaking Medicine features Dr. Luke Messac, an emergency physician, historian, and author of “Your Money or Your Life: Debt Collection in American Medicine.” Emily F. Peters and Dr. Messac explore how the medical culture around debt—and the reluctance to talk about money—shapes patient care and health outcomes.
