Charlotte, N.C.-based Advocate Health is canceling all judgment liens placed on homes and real estate as part of efforts to collect unpaid medical bills.
Advocate — the third-largest nonprofit health system in the U.S. — plans to cancel more than 11,500 liens, some more than 20 years old, according to a Sept. 19 news release from the health system.
The health system said in a Sept. 19 news release that it is reaching out to patients whose liens have been canceled, starting with the oldest cases. The system began contacting affected patients and families earlier in the week.
Advocate said the process of canceling liens will take time to complete and requires collaboration with attorneys in courts in each jurisdiction, according to the release. More information on cancellations can be found here.
Advocate announced in 2022 it would no longer file lawsuits nor seek liens or judgments as part of its collection efforts, according to the release.
"When we expanded our charity care policy, we immediately began assessing all previous outstanding liens and determined that most of those patients would qualify under our new policy," CFO Brad Clark said in the release. "As the next step in our roadmap to make care more affordable, we are accelerating this process and removing judgment liens that were placed on homes and property to cover unpaid medical bills."