every time you receive a notice from this collection agency respond with a debt validation letter. how old is the debt? when was the date of last default? you might want to google hipaa laws concerning collection standards. i don't know what your arrangements were with the hospital, but verbal arrangements can't usually erase written obligations, UNLESS you can prove the verbal agreement. paying that collection every month could have hurt you as their technically may not be a default & paying debts in some states resets the statue of limitations. you can do this yourself without an attorney just research credit information forums, the answers are usually there.