Are medical bills considered a collection item or a public record?

Medical bills themselves are not considered public records; they are private documents between the patient and the healthcare provider. However, if a medical bill goes unpaid and is sent to collections, it can become a collection item. Once in collections, it may be reported to credit bureaus and can affect a person's credit score. While collection accounts are generally accessible to creditors, they do not constitute public records like court judgments or bankruptcies.