Advocate Health cancels liens, forgives medical debt of over 11,500 patients

The news: Not-for-profit health system Advocate Health is canceling all judgment liens it placed on patients’ homes as part of its efforts to collect unpaid medical bills. Outstanding debts associated with these liens will also be forgiven.

• Advocate Health is the merged parent company of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health.
• All told, Advocate Health plans to cancel over 11,500 liens, some of which date back 20 years or more.

But, why? Advocate’s decision comes on the heels of an NBC News investigation that detailed how Atrium Health of North Carolina vigorously pursued patients’ medical debts.