Hospital Offers Free Medical Care

[jeffrey]

A large Mississippi hospital agreed Thursday to offer free medical care to some uninsured patients and provide sharp discounts to others, as part of an agreement negotiated with attorneys who are suing the not-for-profit hospital industry.
The North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo agreed to the settlement to avoid being sued. It is the first hospital to reach an agreement since high-profile lawyer Richard Scruggs began filing cases against the industry in June, accusing it of overcharging the uninsured.

In addition to free care for those under 200% of the federal poverty level ($18,620 for an individual or $37,700 for a family of four), it will offer discounts to uninsured patients with incomes up to four times the federal poverty level and will refund money or forgive debts to up to 48,000 uninsured patients who received care during the past three years... usatoday.com]