Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is asking people who’ve experienced “aggressive billing practices” at Allina Health, or those with knowledge of the alleged practices and policies, to contact his office “so we can determine the scope of the problem and whether any laws or agreements have been broken.”
On Thursday, the New York Times published an investigation into Allina’s billing practices. The story alleges the company refused to provide certain types of care for patients with at least $4,500 in medical debt. While the system will provide emergency care, the article said, it may withhold services until that debt is paid off.
“I read the New York Times article with great concern and am reviewing it closely,” Ellison said in a statement to MPR News. “Allina is bound under the Hospital Agreement to refrain from aggressive billing practices and provide charity care when patients need and qualify for it, as all Minnesota hospitals are.”
“Denying patients needed care on the basis of medical debt harms every Minnesotan, whether or not they are Allina patients.”