Research Alert: June 5, 2025

Preventing Medical Debt Among Rural Residents: Example Programs From Hospitals in Minnesota and Montana

Medical debt, which includes unpaid bills, loans, and other debt incurred from health care expenses, affects roughly 15% of adults in the U.S. This is despite more than 90% of U.S. adults having some form of health insurance. Medical debt is an important social driver of health, with disproportionate impacts for populations already experiencing greater health risks. Overall, rural residents report more problems paying medical bills and are more likely to be unable to pay their medical bills altogether in comparison to urban residents. This case series examines how two rural hospitals aim to reduce medical debt for their patient populations and address barriers to medical debt relief.

Case Series:

• The walk-in CentraCare-Long Prairie Clinic, co-located at the CentraCare-Long Prairie Hospital in Long Prairie, Minnesota works to reduce medical debt among rural patients by providing a more cost-effective environment for patients to receive non-emergency care.
• The Critical Access Hospital at the Sidney Health Center in Sidney, Montana helps reduce medical debt for rural patients by connecting patients with its financial assistance programs.

Additional Resources of Interest:

• More FORHP-funded research on Poverty
• More information about the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center