Tescha Hawley discovered that hospital bills from her son’s birth were sent to debt collectors, affecting her credit score. As a Native American living on a reservation, she utilized the Purchased/Referred Care program, which covers services not available at Indian Health Service facilities. However, patients are still billed despite federal law stating they shouldn’t be responsible for costs. The resulting medical debt can harm credit scores, leading to financial consequences for years. Tribal leaders and a federal report highlight the systemic issues in the program, such as late payments, billing errors, and lack of consequences for health providers. Proposed legislation aims to address these issues to protect Native American patients.
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Native American patients are sent to collections for debts the government owes
