Marshall Video Revives Scrutiny of Patient Debt Lawsuits

The 60-second video was intended to answer criticism of Marshall’s handling of unpaid bills while he worked as an obstetrician. He said his practice sometimes sent accounts to collection agencies to keep providing care, and that he stopped being involved once an account was transferred. Marshall said he never had anyone arrested.

Marshall’s campaign advisers chose not to run the video as an advertisement, believing it could draw more attention to the issue. Marshall nevertheless sent it to people outside the campaign, and a Kansas radio host posted it online on October 31. The video carries a disclaimer saying it was paid for by Kansans for Marshall and approved by the senator.

Marshall’s Democratic opponent, Adam Hamilton, has made the senator’s past billing practices a focus of campaign ads. One features a woman who says police came to arrest her over a $3,596 bill for a C-section. Marshall sent Hamilton a cease-and-desist letter over the ads; Hamilton has continued airing them.

Marshall sued more than 700 patients over debts during his 25 years as a doctor, and at least 81 former patients were arrested, according to a recent account of his practice. A review of about 150 Kansas medical practices also found that Marshall charged the state’s highest annual interest rate on unpaid medical bills. Former patients filed a class-action lawsuit against him last week.

A Marshall campaign spokesperson defended the campaign’s prospects but did not address the video’s substance. The Senate election is November 3.

Marshall’s Defense Puts Patient Debt Record Back in Focus

Roger Marshall’s attempt to explain his former medical practice’s debt collections has put the issue back at the center of his reelection campaign. In a 60-second video, the Kansas Republican said his practice sometimes sent unpaid accounts to collection agencies to keep providing care. He said his involvement ended once an account was transferred and denied having anyone arrested.

That defense comes amid scrutiny of a record that includes lawsuits against more than 700 patients during Marshall’s 25 years as an obstetrician. At least 81 former patients were arrested, and a review of about 150 Kansas medical practices found Marshall charged the state’s highest annual interest rate on unpaid medical bills. Former patients also filed a class-action lawsuit against him last week.

Marshall’s campaign advisers decided against running the video as an ad, concerned it would draw more attention to the controversy. But Marshall sent it to people outside the campaign, and a Kansas radio host posted it online on October 31. The video was paid for by Kansans for Marshall and approved by the senator.

Democrat Adam Hamilton has used the billing practices in attack ads, including one featuring a woman who says police came to arrest her over a $3,596 C-section bill. Marshall sought to stop the ads with a cease-and-desist letter; Hamilton has refused to pull them. Voters decide the Senate race on November 3.

Marshall Explains Medical Collections as Opponent Presses Attack

Sen. Roger Marshall is directly answering a campaign attack over how his former medical practice handled unpaid bills. In a 60-second video, the Kansas Republican said his practice sometimes turned accounts over to collection agencies so it could continue providing care. He said he had no role in accounts after transfer and never had anyone arrested.

Marshall’s campaign advisers chose not to run the video as an ad because they feared it would bring more attention to the controversy. Marshall still sent it to people outside the campaign, and a Kansas radio host posted it online on October 31. The ad’s disclaimer says it was paid for by Kansans for Marshall and approved by the senator.

Democrat Adam Hamilton has made the billing practices a centerpiece of his campaign, including an ad featuring a woman who says police came to arrest her over a $3,596 bill for a C-section. Marshall sent Hamilton a cease-and-desist letter, but Hamilton has continued running the ads.

The dispute concerns Marshall’s years as an obstetrician, when he sued more than 700 patients over debts. At least 81 former patients were arrested, and a review of Kansas medical practices found Marshall charged the state’s highest annual interest rate on unpaid medical bills. Former patients filed a class-action lawsuit against him last week. The election is November 3.