Allina Health said Wednesday it rescinded a policy that denied non-urgent treatment to patients with unpaid medical bills.
The announcement follows reporting in June by the New York Times that revealed the Minneapolis-based nonprofit system prevented patients with at least $4,500 of unpaid debt from booking an appointment at its 90 outpatient clinics. Last week, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) said his office is investigating Allina’s billing practices.
Related: Allina Health probed over patient debt practices
Allina Health said in a statement it is formally transitioning away from the policy after an extensive review. “We have determined there are opportunities to engage our clinical teams and technology differently to provide financial assistance resources for patients who need this support,” it said.
Ellison said in a statement he is glad Allina is moving away from the policy, but that the announcement "does not change the scope of [his office's] investigation, which focuses both on Allina's past conduct and future practices." The attorney general is hosting a public meeting Wednesday about hospitals' billing and debt collection practices.
Several states, including Oregon, Minnesota, Washington, Vermont and Virginia, are boosting oversight of nonprofit health system’s debt collection policies and charity care programs. Oregon, for example, enacted a law last month that requires hospitals to screen patients and make appropriate financial adjustments prior to billing them. A similar law takes effect in Minnesota Nov. 1. Vermont and Virginia enacted comparable laws last year.
