Minneapolis-based Allina Health announced Aug. 23 that it is ending a billing and collection policy that drew national attention and an investigation by the Minnesota attorney general, Becker’s reports.
The New York Times in June published an article about nonprofit Allina Health’s billing practices. Citing internal documents and interviews with Allina physicians, nurses and patients, the Times found the system provided care to indebted patients in emergency rooms but restricted services to other patients who had certain levels of debt, with some patients not allowed to return unless debt was paid in full.
Allina announced on June 9 it paused the policy. On Aug. 18, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced an investigation of Allina billing practices, noting his continued concern “about reports of Allina denying needed non-emergency medical care solely on the basis of medical debt.” Read more.
