Hospitals X-Ray Patient Credit Scores
More and more are buying credit data to see if the sick can afford treatment
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In the hospital business they call it a "wallet biopsy." A growing number of medical centers are using sophisticated software that digs into patients' finances to help determine whether they will receive free or discounted care.
The procedure, which is not understood by most patients or even many doctors, generally doesn't come into play when there is an emergency. But it has raised eyebrows for several reasons: Hospital administrators are looking at patient data—credit scores, credit-card limits, and 401(k) balances—not usually associated with treatment decisions.