WASHINGTON (March 31, 2026) – Emerging research points to a “vortex” of medical debt in which opaque hospital pricing, hidden fees, and aggressive legal tactics can transform routine care into long-term financial strain.
Researchers found that providers in Virginia alone filed more than 1 million medical debt lawsuits between 2010 and 2024, which highlights how patients can find themselves trapped in cycles of debt.
One of the report’s authors, Barak D. Richman, co-director of the Health Law Program at GW Law, is available to discuss what this vortex reveals about the U.S. healthcare system. Richman can elaborate on how opaque pricing becomes legally enforceable debt, why nonprofit hospitals are some of the most aggressive collectors, and what upcoming policy changes, particularly in Virginia, indicate for reform efforts.
If you would like to schedule an interview with Professor Richman, please contact Claire Sabin at claire [dot] sabin
gwu [dot] edu (claire[dot]sabin[at]gwu[dot]edu).
-GW-