Medical

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Appeals $1.125 Million Wrongful Termination Verdict, Seeks Trial Do-Over

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BURLINGTON, Vt. — After a jury awarded Dr. Misty Blanchette Porter $1.125 million in a wrongful termination lawsuit against Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), the medical center is seeking another opportunity to contest the ruling. The verdict followed a lengthy trial that took place over 14 days this spring. DHMC, along with its parent organization Dartmouth Health, has formally requested that U.S. District Judge Kevin J. Doyle either modify the judgment or grant a new trial. The jury’s decision came after deliberating for over 20 hours. Dr. Porter claimed she was unlawfully dismissed in 2017 … Read more

Federal Judge Reverses CFPB’s Medical Debt Exemption, Citing Fair Credit Reporting Act Violations

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A federal judge in the United States has invalidated a rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that aimed to remove medical debt from credit reports. The ruling drew attention to the limits of the agency’s authority, asserting that the proposal violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The CFPB’s initiative was based on extensive research suggesting that medical debt does not reliably indicate an individual’s ability to repay loans. The agency anticipated that the removal of such debts could lead to an average credit score increase of 20 points for millions of consumers, thereby … Read more

Kentucky Takes a Step Forward: Medical Marijuana Legalized – Is Recreational Use Next?

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Frankfort, Kentucky — As the conversation around marijuana continues to evolve in the United States, attention is turning to Kentucky, where the recent legalization of medical marijuana has raised questions about the potential for recreational use. Currently, 24 states permit the use of marijuana for various purposes, highlighting a growing trend in state-level legislation. Kentucky’s move to legalize medical marijuana followed years of debate, driven by advocates who emphasized the benefits for patients suffering from conditions like chronic pain and epilepsy. Governor Andy Beshear signed the medical legalization bill into law, marking a significant shift … Read more

Federal Judge Overturns Biden-Era Medical Debt Relief Rule, Impacting Millions of Americans’ Credit Scores

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AUSTIN, Texas — A federal judge has overturned a ruling by the Biden administration designed to alleviate medical debt for nearly 15 million Americans by modifying how it impacts credit scores. The decision, made by U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan, highlights ongoing debates over financial regulations and consumer protection. The administration’s initiative aimed to eliminate approximately $50 million in medical debt from credit reports. Though it did not cancel existing debt, the rule proposed new ways to compute credit scores, potentially benefiting many consumers. Implemented by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in January, the … Read more