At the Republican National Committee’s mid‑term convention in Dallas, Kansas Senate candidate Sen. Roger Marshall, R‑Kan., denounced a recent The New York Times investigation as a politically motivated hit‑job. Marshall, a former OB‑GYN who founded Great Bend Regional Hospital and the Heartland Regional OB‑GYN practice, said the story – which details more than 700 lawsuits filed against former patients for unpaid medical bills – was planted by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D‑N.Y., and the left‑wing media.
Marshall defends his collection practices
Marshall explained that his office followed standard medical‑billing procedures. “If a person is making a payment of $5 a month, that’s fine,” he said. “As long as they communicate, we work with them. Only a very small fraction of unpaid bills ever go to collections.” He noted that once a collection agency was involved, the process was handled by professional third‑party firms that also serve other doctors and hospitals in the region.
The New York Times report claimed that the lawsuits carried an 18% annual interest rate and that 81 patients were arrested for missing court dates. Marshall responded, “I would never want anyone to be arrested because of money they owe me or the hospital, but we had standard policies. Once they went to collections, I was never asked another – had nothing else to do with the process.” He emphasized that he was one of the few physicians in the area who accepted Medicaid, drawing patients from surrounding cities.
Political context and Trump endorsement
Marshall is seeking a second term in the U.S. Senate, facing Democrat Adam Hamilton, a megachurch pastor. Vice President J.D. Vance, a key surrogate for President Donald Trump, recently campaigned for Marshall, praising him as a “valued ally” who has consistently supported the Trump administration’s agenda for Kansas families.
Vance defended Marshall against the NYT story, stating, “Doc Marshall has stood up for everyday Americans every single day he’s been in the United States Senate.” The endorsement underscores the Trump administration’s continued influence in Kansas Republican politics.
Critics and campaign responses
Hamilton campaign spokesperson Tyson Brody accused Marshall of requesting the 18% interest rate—”50% higher than the statutory rate in Kansas”—and of allowing warrants, arrests, and garnishments of pregnant mothers. Brody cited a woman who said she was pressured to pay in full and another who was arrested while struggling with payments.
Marshall rebutted these claims, saying the lawsuits were filed by his legal team based on standard contractual terms and that any arrests resulted from court orders, not personal vendettas. He added, “Our judges wouldn’t do what they’re describing in that article. There had to be something else going on.”
What Kansas voters should know
As the race tightens, Kansas voters are hearing a stark contrast: a candidate framed as a defender of traditional values and a pro‑Trump ally versus a Democratic challenger backed by a megachurch congregation. The controversy over the NYT report adds a national media dimension to a local contest, highlighting the broader partisan battle over how medical debt collection is portrayed.
Marshall’s campaign urges Kansans to look beyond what he calls “left media” narratives and focus on his record of supporting families, small‑business health care, and the Trump administration’s policies that aim to reduce regulatory burdens on physicians.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
