Al Franken

If these allegations turn out to be true, would they violate any part of Accretive's contract with Fairview?

Medical debt is different from other types of debt, that people don't typically choose to rack up medical debt, and they definitely don't choose to get sick.

I'm worried that activities like the ones that have been alleged could bring down the quality of health care that Minnesotans receive.

This is exactly why our trusted and proven system of Medicare should be expanded so every man, woman and child could be included in Medicare for all.

I think that's probably because just about everyone needs medical attention at some point in his or her life, so these issues affect all of us.

I would find it absolutely abhorrent if any patients had been badgered by debt collectors in the emergency room.

Do you think there's a better way to collect payment from patients than the way you were treated in the hospital?

But in reality, isn't it the case that Accretive did assume full responsibility for the management and cost of Fairview's cycle, revenue cycle?

I believe that when patients' privacy is violated, everyone is harmed.

Why did Mr. Doyle, a revenue cycle employee, have all these data?

I am very disappointed in the system that employed me for so many years.

Many hospitals are operating on smaller and smaller margins, and they need help to survive financially so they can serve their communities.

We believe that Accretive Health has acted reasonably and appropriately to protect PHI, both in response to the July 2011 laptop theft and more broadly.

I'm worried that if patients know they'll be asked for pre-payment of services, that they'll stop going to the emergency room when they're sick.

I think that's the case. Hospitals are in a crunch and they have to be able to collect debt, and I think everyone agrees with that.

I don't understand why they would need access to all their health care information prior to that.

The attorney general's report discusses what she calls a culture clash between Accretive and Fairview.

Hospitals have to find a way to collect the money that's owed to them, and I'm sure you'd agree.

But there is a conflict of interest that does arise clearly when hospitals perform in more illusory than real ways with regard to providing charitable care.

We have debt collection laws for a reason, to protect consumers.

This kind of ruthless, corporate behavior simply would not have been allowed.

In addition to the FDCPA, let's talk about privacy laws. Based on the evidence we've heard today, do you believe our Federal health policy, privacy policy, that those laws should be strengthened to protect patients' privacy?

Historically, the reason why, in fact, we allowed hospitals and other organizations to have a charitable status is because we had sick people.

I think that should be the norm. This is Minnesota. People in Minnesota are good at their jobs, and we are nothing if not nice.

We have a health care system that is among the most expensive per patient in the world.