My mom just got served tonight

Yes she can still file.

Whether or not she should file would depend on how much she owes and what her financial circumstances are. She she go for a free bankruptcy consolutation with a local attorney.

Hi!
Welcome to the forums!
Contact your mother's creditor/hospital authority and find out the total debt amount first. I think it will be better if your mother settles the unpaid bills instead of filing bankruptcy. She can talk to the hospital authority/credit and explain her financial condition to them. They may agree to lower the payoff amount.

Yes, your mother may file bankruptcy. However, she has to pass the means test to qualify for Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy. Since, bankruptcy hurts one credit score, so it is advisable to consider it as the last option.

As SoapLady has suggested, your mother will be able to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy though she has been served a notice. However, as Nelly said, in order to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your mother should qualify the "Means Test". She should contact a bankruptcy attorney who will go through her financial situation and let her know whether or not she qualifies it. But, it is not a good option to file bankruptcy just for a particular debt. If she has various other unsecured and secured debts which she is unable to pay, then she can file bankruptcy, get her debts discharged and start afresh. If this is the only debt which is becoming difficult for her to pay off, then she should have a word with her creditor and try to settle the dues.