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Profiting From the Poor

Inside Memphis’ Debt Machine

An investigation into what keeps poor people poor in a city where wages are low.

Impact of Our Reporting
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Profiting From the Poor

What Happens After a Debt Collection Machine Grinds to a Halt

One year ago, Methodist Le Bonheur hospital system erased nearly $12 million of medical debt after an investigation from MLK50 and ProPublica. We checked in with two women who have new jobs and a new optimism about their future.

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

Local Reporting Network

Profiting From the Poor

We Reported on a Nonprofit Hospital System That Sues Poor Patients. It Just Freed Thousands From Debt.

After an investigation by MLK50 and ProPublica, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare is erasing debt for unpaid hospital bills owed by more than 6,500 patients. Our reporting found the hospital had profited by aggressively pursuing patients who couldn’t pay.

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

Local Reporting Network

Profiting From the Poor

“Humbled”: Nonprofit Christian Hospital Dials Back Aggressive Debt Collection and Raises Wages After Our Investigation

MLK50 and ProPublica found that Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare sued thousands of low-income patients, including dozens of its own employees, over five years. The hospital system just announced major policy changes in response.

by Wendi C. Thomas and Deborah Douglas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

Local Reporting Network

Profiting From the Poor

Hospital Suspends Debt Collection Lawsuits Amid Furor Over Suing Its Own Employees

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare is reevaluating its policy after an MLK50-ProPublica investigation found that it had filed 8,300 lawsuits in the past five years, including against many of its own employees.

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

Local Reporting Network

Profiting From the Poor

Millionaire CEO of Nonprofit Hospital That Sues the Poor Promises Review of Policies

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare promised a policy review after an investigation by MLK50 and ProPublica found it had sued 8,300 patients — including its own employees — over medical debt. Its CEO has not responded to our questions.

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

Local Reporting Network

14 stories published since 2019

Nonprofit Hospital Almost Never Gave Discounts to Poor Patients During Collections, Documents Show

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

Our Journalists Stopped Calling People Hard-to-Reach and Listened to Them. Here’s What Worked.

by Beena Raghavendran and Maya Miller, ProPublica, with Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

What It Looks Like When a Hospital We Investigated Erases $11.9 Million in Medical Debt

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

Sen. Chuck Grassley Wants a Hospital System That Sued Poor Patients to Explain Itself

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

This Doctors Group Is Owned by a Private Equity Firm and Repeatedly Sued the Poor Until We Called Them

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, with Maya Miller, Beena Raghavendran and Doris Burke, ProPublica,

Have You Been Sued by a Hospital, Doctor or Other Medical Institution? Tell Us About It.

by Beena Raghavendran and Maya Miller, ProPublica, and Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

Journalists, We’re Sharing Our Tips From Patients With Medical Debt. Want Them?

by Maya Miller,

Thousands of Poor Patients Face Lawsuits From Nonprofit Hospitals That Trap Them in Debt

by Maya Miller and Beena Raghavendran,

Stop Suing Patients, Advocates Advise Memphis Nonprofit Hospital System

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

Have You Been Sued by a Hospital, Doctor or Other Memphis Institution? Tell Us About It.

by Beena Raghavendran, ProPublica, and Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

Low-Wage Workers Are Being Sued for Unpaid Medical Bills by a Nonprofit Christian Hospital That Employs Them

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

The Nonprofit Hospital That Makes Millions, Owns a Collection Agency and Relentlessly Sues the Poor

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

This Memphis Hospital System Flouts IRS Rules by Not Publicly Posting Financial Assistance Policies

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism,

How We Tallied Medical Debt Lawsuits and Wage Garnishments in Memphis

by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, and Lylla Younes and Doris Burke, ProPublica,

What We’re Watching

During Donald Trump’s second presidency, ProPublica will focus on the areas most in need of scrutiny. Here are some of the issues our reporters will be watching — and how to get in touch with them securely.

Learn more about our reporting team. We will continue to share our areas of interest as the news develops.

Photo of Sharon Lerner
Sharon Lerner

I cover health and the environment and the agencies that govern them, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

Photo of Andy Kroll
Andy Kroll

I cover justice and the rule of law, including the Justice Department, U.S. attorneys and the courts.

Photo of Melissa Sanchez
Melissa Sanchez

I report on immigration and labor, and I am based in Chicago.

Photo of Jesse Coburn
Jesse Coburn

I cover housing and transportation, including the companies working in those fields and the regulators overseeing them.

If you don’t have a specific tip or story in mind, we could still use your help. Sign up to be a member of our federal worker source network to stay in touch.

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