Survey Reveals Alarming Impact of Medical Debt on U.S. Patients

The recent survey conducted by ADAP Advocacy, titled 'Patient Medical Debt: Findings from Quantitative Surveying of Patients in the United States,' sheds light on the critical issue of medical debt and its far-reaching consequences on patient care and health. With 673 responses, the study reveals that 77% of participants have delayed or avoided medical care due to financial constraints, excluding prescription drug purchases. This statistic is a stark indicator of the barriers patients face in accessing essential healthcare services.

Further compounding the issue, 71% of respondents reported avoiding prescription drug purchases because of high out-of-pocket costs. The prevalence of medical debt is widespread, with 74% of survey participants acknowledging they hold medical debt. Hospitals are identified as the primary holders of this debt, responsible for 39%, followed by specialty care physicians at 22%. The implications of such debt are profound, with 66% of respondents stating their medical debt is currently in collections, and 40% noting a negative impact on their credit scores.

Perhaps most concerning is the direct effect on health, with 70% of participants indicating that medical debt has influenced their health status. Brandon M. Macsata, CEO of ADAP Advocacy, points to systemic issues, particularly with the 340B Drug Pricing Program, suggesting that hospital systems are not leveraging drug rebate programs as intended to enhance affordable healthcare access. These findings call for urgent reforms in healthcare financing and strategies to remove financial barriers to medical care, underscoring the need for a collective effort to address this pressing issue.