"Mother's Shocking $102,000 Debt for Son's Mental Health Hospital Stay"

A mother in North Carolina was billed nearly $102,000 for her son's stay at a state-run mental health facility. Her son, who has autism, post-traumatic stress disorder, and ADHD, spent over 100 days at the facility in 2020. The family had agreed to a discounted rate, but received a bill significantly higher than expected. State attorneys general, responsible for protecting consumers from harmful debt collection practices, often find themselves in a contradictive position when collecting unpaid debts for state-run facilities. The case highlights the challenges of unaffordable healthcare, lack of billing transparency, and the financial burden faced by patients and their families. Efforts are being made to strengthen consumer protections and curb aggressive debt collection practices.