If you pay a small amount per month on medical bills, does this keep it out of collections?

My wife was hospitalized in March and insurance is denying most of the claims. We are fighting this, but so far we haven't had any luck. We're being billed by the hospital for $18000. I've been told by more than one source that if you pay as little as $10/month, this will keep it from going to collections, and presumably, keep you from being sued. Is there any truth to this? It is the hospital's own insurance that is denying the claims, which seems like a scam to me, but that's a whole different story.