Although Grissom didn't qualify for Medicaid, he was eligible for financial aid offered by the hospital. As the collection process continued, Grissom followed his doctor's advice, contacting then-New York Senator Clinton.

"Within two weeks I was speaking to someone in her office, who, at one point, handed the phone to the senator herself," Grissom wrote, " 'You did not enter a credit agreement with that hospital,' she told me, 'So I cannot fathom why they are pursuing you as if you did. In addition, that hospital is aided by the state of New York and the federal government, so they are way out of line. You need to fight this cancer and get well: You don't have time for this nonsense. Let me look into it.' "