The original article can be found in: The Guardian By Shane D. Williams
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital was once again the target of public outrage when news surfaced that a letter was issued to Stephen Buckley threatening court action for unpaid medical bills at the institution. Chandra Nisbet-Cansino, Chair of the KHMH Board of Directors, explained to the media on Tuesday, July 30th, that the institution is using the Credit Masters Systems to collect outstanding medical bills. She says the company issued a letter to Stephen Buckley because he is one of many individuals on the list of people that owes the hospital. However, the institution has already instructed the collection agency not to proceed further until Buckley settles his claims against the state.
In the mean time, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital will continue using the service of Credit Master Systems to collect on outstanding medical bills. Cansino says, “less than 50% of the hospital bills are paid.” She says that over the past six years alone there is more than $10 million in unpaid bills. This money is needed to effectively run the institution. She explains that “while the service is public, it is not free [because] we have to pay for everything that we have and we have to pay our staff members.” Though Government’s subvention covers most of the hospital’s operating costs, the institution relies on its fees to meet a portion of its expenses.
