SAN FRANCISCO — Fintech company PayZen, which helps patients tackle medical debt, is reviewing its North America PR agency support, PRovoke Media has learned.

The San Francisco-based platform issued an RFI earlier this week to 16 agencies with healthcare expertise, nine of which have already accepted the invitation to pitch the business, said VP of marketing Bill Kramer. PayZen hopes to award the low six-figure contract to an agency by September 15.

Chicago’s North 6th Agency currently handles PR for the young company, which debuted its first product about a year ago.

Kramer, who joined PayZen in April, however, said he is looking now for a health or healthtech-focused agency familiar with the intricacies of the healthcare system and patient costs. The remit includes public relations, social media, thought leadership and content marketing.

PayZen, launched in 2019, is designed to help users pay off medical debt by offering no-interest individualized payment plans. Providers receive payments upfront, reducing losses incurred when patients fail to pay their bills.