A Kansas hospital garnished wages of patients who qualified for free care. Then they fought back.

By: Anna Kaminski

Outlets: Kansas Reflector

Published: July 14, 2026

Words: 2,432

Last Updated: 1 week, 1 day ago

TOPEKA — When $300 disappeared from Mariana Villegas’ paycheck, she rationalized it.

She had worked fewer hours to stay home with her sick daughter, sure, but it still seemed like a lot to go missing, she said. She let it slide.

Then it happened again.

Villegas had no idea a local hospital had sued her last fall for $2,200 in medical debt plus interest and was garnishing her wages.

“I don’t have much,” Villegas said …

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