can a collection co. ask for my lawyer to have pwr of attorney of me b4 they can accept any payment.

lawyer says collection agency will not accept any money until lawyer has power of attorney lawyer has all info on collect. co. and keeps insisting that this is the way it has to be before they will accept payment. lawyer knows I have cancer and I am fighting the cancer . never heard of an agency that wont take monthly payments to clear up bill... but lawyer insists this is the only way .. to sign over my power of attorney to him so that this bill can be paid off. lawyer is located in Minnesota,, I am in New York...