Fewer Consumers Avoid Obtaining Medical Care Due to Cost

Three months of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show fewer people are foregoing medical care due to cost than originally estimated.

More info here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health

Consumer Borrowing Continues to Rise

The Federal Reserve’s July consumer credit report shows an uptick in borrowing for auto and student loans and credit card spending, but not as much as in June.

More info here: http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/current/default.htm

Credit Card Debt Surges in Second Quarter

The increase in consumers’ spending with credit cards has cancelled out payments they made on their balances from the first quarter.

More info here: http://www.cardhub.com/edu/credit-card-debt-study/

Research Shows Shift in Hospitals’ Financial Risk

As more consumers are insured and their self-pay responsibility increases, healthcare providers need to update their collections approach to making sure revenue is coming in.

More info here: http://www.crowehorwath.com/news-room/rca-Q2-2015/

US Debt Is Rising Again—But That’s a Good Thing

More info here: http://www.thefinancialist.com/us-debt-is-rising-again-but-thats-a-good-thing/?utm_source=ACA+Daily&utm_campaign=73e338f3e9-ACA_Daily_September_4_20159_8_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6fad47e63c-73e338f3e9-66948177

Consumers’ New Phone Numbers Present Additional Challenges in Debt Collections

ACA International is continuing to provide input on the FCC’s Declaratory Ruling and Order on the TCPA and the additional liability it presents for collectors trying to reach consumers.

More info here: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/health-care/medical-debt-collectors-arms-over-fcc-ruling

Federal Student Aid Releases Best Practices for Student Loan Servicers

The best practices, part of the Obama administration’s Student Aid Bill of Rights, focus on performance-based contracting to better ensure that student loan servicers help borrowers make affordable monthly payments as well as defaults and delinquency.

More info here: http://www.ed.gov/blog/2015/08/another-step-forward-under-the-student-aid-bill-of-rights/