Allina Health, a large nonprofit health system based in Minnesota, announced Friday that it will stop denying care to patients with outstanding medical debt as it “re-examines” its services for those who have accumulated at least $4,500 in outstanding debt. The policy bill for people cutting off service.
The health system will now temporarily suspend the practice, but will not resume care for indebted patients who are already unable to access care.
While Allina’s hospital can treat anyone in the emergency room, other services for patients with high debt are cut off, including children and those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and depression, The New York Times reported last week. Patients are not allowed to return until the debt is fully paid off.
Allina CEO Lisa Shannon called the move a “thoughtful pause” as the company revisits the policy.
Dr. Matt Hoffman, Allina’s primary care physician in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, said he is encouraged by the change and hopes that Allina will eventually make more significant changes to the way it treats its indebted patients.
“I hope this isn’t just a temporary pause before the heating goes off,” Dr. Hoffman said. “I hope they do the right thing and bring back patients who have been terminated.”
Minnesota Public Radio was the first to report the policy change.
Allina Health has 13 hospitals and more than 90 clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Thanks to its not-for-profit status, Allina avoided about $266 million in state, local and federal taxes in 2020, according to the Lown Institute, a think tank that studies health care.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Allison has asked patients affected by the Allina policy to contact his office.
“I read the New York Times article with great concern and am reviewing it carefully,” Mr. Ellison said in a statement to local TV station KARE 11. Like all Minnesota hospitals, when patients need and qualify for charity care. “
