Has Mary Rutan Hospital Sued You For Medical Debt?
Medical debt allows in-need patients to afford the best treatment while they are unable to pay for it. This allows them to pay back the hospital or the creditor in small amounts, once they get better or return to their normal life. Do you face legal action if you do not pay your hospital bill?
You do, if you are in debt to Mary Rutan Hospital. The only recognized hospital in Logan County has sued thousands of people over the years for unpaid debt, with 2,700 filings since 2023.
If you have been sued by Mary Rutan, then you may have seen wage garnishments due to that. Let us explore why it has happened, and what you can do about it.
Why Did Mary Rutan Hospital Sue Patients?
Mary Rutan Hospital has filed around 400 lawsuits each year since the beginning of 2000. These lawsuits are for recollections of debt from $215 to $153,000. [1] The hospital has sued patients for years for unpaid medical bills and has continued this trend this year.
Many times, former or current patients do not even know they are being sued. The only reason many find out is that they see deductions from their salaries and wages.
In the last two years, significant debt has been owed to Mary Rutan, for which the hospital has sued patients.
Here is how much the hospital sued two specific patients for:
- Dustin Overly – $23,209 in March of 2024
- Tuff Kline – $31,407 in early 2025
Signal Ohio interviewed 17 more patients, who were sued by the hospital. [2] Some former patients were ordered by the court to repay in weekly installments, while others are required to pay monthly, depending on the debt and yearly earnings. The hospital is also known to have sued its own employees for medical debt collection.
Can Hospitals Sue Patients for Unpaid Debt?
Hospitals are allowed to sue patients for unpaid medical debt. Under the Ohio Medical Debt Fairness Act, hospitals can sue former or current patients for debt collection. However, the law also limits aggressive collection practices and prevents high-interest rates or wage garnishments. The Ohio Medical Debt Fairness Act (HB 257)
However, Mary Rutan Hospital works around this law by suing the patient and pushing for court orders. Since a court can order aggressive recollection methods, former patients are subjected to wage garnishments, with some paying around 8% and others around 25% of their weekly or monthly wages.
A new change in the HB 257 is being proposed by Senator Rep Michelle Grim, which would cap wage garnishments at 3%. While the legislation is still in process, it could be months, if not years, before the law goes into effect. Until then, Bellefontaine patients continue to repay their debt to Mary Rutan.
What Can You Do If You Were Sued by Mary Rutan Hospital?
If you were sued by Mary Rutan Hospital, then you have a limited time to answer the lawsuit. If you were notified, the law requires you to answer the lawsuit in kind, by showing up to a hearing or responding in writing.
If you are facing aggressive recollection efforts from Mary Rutan Hospital, then you have various ways you can avoid that. You can simply opt to repay the debt and avoid any further financial difficulties. Or you can look to seek aid to help with crushing medical debt.
The following are the key options that you have:
Avoid Using Credit Cards to Repay Medical Debt
You need to avoid repaying your debt via credit cards. Not only will this give away the information needed to collect your debt without your permission or knowledge, but it will also compromise your chances of medical aid.
Keep in mind that most medical debts have a lower interest rate than credit card payments. If you pile up credit card payments beyond the payable amount, you can hurt your credit score. It also increases your chances of getting sued by credit card companies, as well as the hospital.
Here are the options that might be available instead:
- Negotiate a payment plan directly with the hospital billing office.
- Use Medicaid or government health programs if eligible.
- Consider non-profit medical debt relief organizations for help.
- Consolidate debt through a court-approved Chapter 13 repayment plan.
While these options are not always available, when it comes to Mary Rutan Hospital, you can still seek legal help to make things easier for you.
What to Do To Strengthen Your Case
Bear in mind that many people in Logan County did not know that they were being sued until they saw wages garnished. This is a cheap tactic that prevents you from responding legally, and the only purpose it serves is to ensure you repay hospital debt through wage garnishments or cuts.
Ohio’s law allows you to answer a lawsuit within 28 days (weekends not included). If you can prove you were not served or notified of the lawsuit, then an attorney can help you with the case.
Before that, you can do the following:
- Check the date of your lawsuit by visiting the Ohio Public Docket
- Do not admit the debt right away
- Gather the explanation of benefits (EOB), if available
- Talk to your insurance or check your insurance information online (if applicable)
- Take your case to court and argue that the medical bill is unreasonable
Bear in mind that this means you will be in a legal battle with the hospital, which can take weeks, if not months, to resolve. If your debts are not significant, and you are able to repay, you should ride it out.
Financial Assistance (Ohio’s Hospital Care Assurance Program)
The Ohio Hospital Association offers a Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP) to those with crushing medical debt. This applies to those who make less than 100% of the poverty level. In other words, if you are making $32,150 or less in a year, then you are eligible for this program.
If you apply for financial assistance, it also prevents the hospital from beginning debt collection efforts. Applying can buy you more time. Or it can help you repay the debt that you owe to the hospital.
Hire a Bankruptcy Lawyer
If you are unable to pay a significant amount of debt, then you can defend your case, but you will need the help of an attorney. This is where talking to a debt or bankruptcy attorney can be handy. They can guide you through the process.
Moreover, capable debt or bankruptcy attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means you do not have to pay them up front, and it can reduce the stress of paying for an attorney.
What Happens If You Refuse to Answer Mary Rutan’s Lawsuit?
As mentioned before, many former patients of Mary Rutan Hospital found out they were sued once the debt collection began. This means the court judged that you did not answer the lawsuit within 28 days and granted the creditor a default judgment against you.
The judgment allows Mary Rutan Hospital or its debt collector to pursue collection actions. This includes wage garnishments, bank account levies, or property liens to recover the debt.
Have You Been Sued By Mary Rutan Hospital?
If you or a loved one was sued by Mary Rutan Hospital, then you can opt to file for bankruptcy and repay your debt. Call 937-748-1749 and talk to Richard West Law Office today for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Some reports suggest that Mary Rutan Hospital sues around 400 patients each year since the year 2000. In the last two years (since 2023), Mary Rutan has sued around 2,700 patients, with debt ranging from a few hundred to $150,000. [3]
Yes, bankruptcy filing can help you discharge or manage medical debt. You can opt for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Chapter 7 can liquidate non-exempt assets to repay your debt. Meanwhile, Chapter 13 allows you to consolidate debt with a court-approved repayment plan.
You can negotiate directly with the hospital or debt collectors to reduce the amount owed or establish manageable payment plans. You can also opt to look for financial assistance programs.
Any sort of counteraction for wrongful or unfair medical debt is generally difficult. The lawsuit itself will cost you more than repaying your debt. It is suggested that you answer the lawsuit and fight back if any wrongful debt are handed to you. Otherwise, repaying debt is the easiest way out of such situations.
Sources:
[1] Croup, J. (2025, October 9). Proposed Ohio bill would ban wage garnishment for medical debt. https://www.13abc.com/2025/10/09/proposed-ohio-bill-would-ban-wage-garnishment-medical-debt/
[2] Zuckerman, J., Tobias, A., Zuckerman, J., & Tobias, A. (2025, September 29). This small-town Ohio hospital sued 2,700 patients in two years for unpaid medical bills. Signal Ohio. https://signalohio.org/this-small-town-ohio-hospital-sued-2700-patients-in-two-years-for-unpaid-medical-bills/
[3] Small-town Ohio hospital sued 2,700 patients in two years. (2025). Ohio Capital Journal. https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/10/07/this-small-town-ohio-hospital-sued-2700-patients-in-two-years-for-unpaid-medical-bills/
