This brief describes the medical debt collection practices conducted by Upstate University Hospital (Upstate Hospital), located in Syracuse, New York. At 750 beds, it is the largest medical center in Central New York—and seeks to become even bigger by acquiring the 465 bed Crouse Hospital, located nearby. In October 2022, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission advised the State Department of Health (SDOH) to reject the proposed merger on the grounds that it will drive higher costs, lower quality of care, and reduce access to care and worker wages. Another consideration that the SDOH should consider is that Upstate Hospital sues more patients for medical debt than any other hospital in the state—as many as 1,500 patients a year.

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