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With the number of self-pay patients growing dramatically (http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/hospitals-fail-collect-payments-service-time/2011-08-22) in recent years, patient responsibilities are an increasingly important revenue source. So hospitals must take note of a self-pay trend that is helping patients pay their medical bills--crowdfunding websites, reported (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/11/crowdfunding-medical-expenses-fundraising/1786039/) USA Today.
One such site, GoFundMe, is raising about $30 million a year for a variety of personal causes, with medical bill payment its number one cause, comprising about 17 percent of all funds being raised, according to the article.