COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mattie Randolph is among a growing number of Americans facing medical debt — and for her, that struggle began with a routine hospital visit in 2018.

Randolph says she wasn’t billed for her care at Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine until years later.

“They’re suing me for $4,011,” she said, noting she only received her first bill two months ago.

The hospital declined to comment on individual cases, but responded through a statement and video saying, “Legal action is a last resort, only after exhausting every available alternative for payment.”

“This organization does require that we seek collection of patient balances but the use of the legal process is extremely rare. In fact, only 1.5% of all open patient balances over the past 5 years have gone to the legal proc

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