I fail to understand the part about “nobody loses.” Can you explain that again?
Doesn’t it depend on who the money is owed to?
Then use it for all debt. And for everyone.
There is a way for utopia. 
RIP buys these medical debts like any other debt collector. Instead of harassing the debtor like a normal collector, RIP doesn’t don’t do anything but delete it. It’s a one-step process.
There’s no reason to extend the program to everyone right now.
It’s more efficient to focus limited resources on medical debts, since they are diminshed three orders of magnitude in the collections market. Makes sense to buy the 99% discounted debt first.
But someone is out a lot of money, right?
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None of the transactions discussed in this thread have anything to do with that.
When you buy debt, it’s yours to do whatever you want with. The seller gains money in that transaction, like any other seller.
Then the buyer doesn’t gain.
Buyer is getting what they purchased.
Yes the buyer does gain… if they run their debt collection business right.
Debt collectors buy debt at huge discounts. For example they will buy a $5000 debt for $500. Then they will turn around and attempt to collect the full $5000 from the original debtor. Often they end up settling the debt for far less… say $2000. Now they made $1500 profit.
Sometimes they even setup payment plans for the $2000… charge interest and make even more money.
And doing nothing to solve the underlying problem.
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But check out these pretzels being twisted for this obvious lie to get a couple more (D)umbasses to the booth.
Very impressive. 
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What is the underlying problem?
Then the hospital loses.
Correct.
Hospitals will always lose when required to provide care to people in emergencies who may not be able to pay.
If the person cannot pay, should a hospital be able to refuse emergency services?
The cost of medical care.
Lamont’s plan is just another example of politician spending someone else’s money to win elections.
Corporate CEOs do it too. (Company not making money? Announce a share buyback just in time for the next board election.)
Is it only emergency services?
Sugar.
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What you say is true, and no, hospitals should not be able to refuse emergency services for those who cannot pay. However, I think there should be measures that would help mitigate emergencies, at least illnesses.
How about banning processed junk food and sodas from being available to be purchased with EBT cards? Make EBT cards have similar restrictions as WIC. If hospitals cannot turn anyone away because they are in a diabetic coma, or have a heart attack, then the government should not fund the patients getting to that point.
Labor and delivery is probably included… not sure if that counts as emergency.
For all other elective care, hospitals would probably verify insurance before proceeding with the operation. So my guess if very little debt related to elective medical procedure. Most is likely emergency services
