Split Ninth Circuit Says Optional Video Texts Do Not Trigger TCPA
- For the purposes of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, text messages are considered phone calls, courts have largely ruled. But what about a text message that contains a video? The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has affirmed a lower court’s ruling that texts with videos that require an individual to “affirmatively act” to choose to listen and watch the video are not subject to the statute. In a decision that will be closely watched by compliance teams and digital strategy leaders, the Ninth Circuit held that the TCPA’s restrictions on artificial or prerecorded voices apply only to how a call is made or initiated, not to optional content that a recipient chooses to engage with after the fact.
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Judge Grants Summary Judgment for Debt Buyer in FDCPA Dispute
- In a case that was defended by David Schultz at Hinshaw & Culbertson, a District Court judge in Missouri has granted a defendant’s motion for summary judgment in a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act case over alleged issues with the chain of title and validation of a debt that was purchased by a debt buyer.
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N.Y. Governor Unveils ‘Money in Your Pockets’ Agenda Tackling Affordability Issues
- New York, often a national bellwether for consumer-protection and affordability policy, is putting a fresh set of “cost-of-living” proposals on the table that could materially change how much cash households have available each month, with other states likely to watch and borrow from the playbook. In her 2026 State of the State rollout, Gov. Kathy Hochul highlighted initiatives aimed at reducing some of the biggest recurring expenses for families: child care, utilities, insurance premiums, and groceries.
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From Collections to Confidence: Why Patient Experience Is Now a Revenue Strategy
- For the first time, improving the patient experience — not increasing revenue — has become the top strategic priority for healthcare financial leaders, according to FinThrive’s 2026 Transformative Trends Report. The shift is significant for anyone involved in revenue cycle management or medical debt collections: 71% of RCM and finance leaders now rank patient experience as their primary focus, surpassing revenue growth as healthcare organizations rethink how long-term financial performance is achieved. The report signals a move away from short-term fixes toward automation, platform consolidation, and trust-driven engagement strategies that directly affect patient payments and collections outcomes.
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Altus Expands Leadership Team to Advance Commercial Execution and Strategic Growth
- Altus, the trusted leader in commercial receivables management and business-to-business collections, today announced the addition of two senior leaders to its organization: Marco R. Constante, Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations & Enablement, and Ross Lafont, Vice President, Corporate Development and FP&A.
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35 Companies Seeking Collection Talent
- There are plenty of opportunities for everybody in this week’s job listings summary, regardless of where you live, where you work, or what you want to be when you grow up. You should check out who is hiring.
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WORTH NOTING: Indiana is one step closer to officially settling a debate on what is the state sandwich … Perhaps a sign of the times: the Attorney General of Arkansas has created a position in his office related to overseeing artificial intelligence … An economist weighs in on the proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10% … Why 2026 is a make-or-break year for hospitals … An interesting look at the demographics of individuals in one city who had their medical debts forgiven … A look at the signature food in each state … A deep dive into the corporate buzzword many have grown to hate … Working more does not make you more productive.
Wisdom Wednesday, part I
Wisdom Wednesday, part II
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