Allina To 'Pause' Policy Of Withholding Care From Patients In Debt

Allina Health will pause its policy of withholding clinic appointments from patients who have significant medical debt in the wake of a New York Times article about the practice.

Allina, which draws $4 billion annually in revenue, denies appointments to patients who owe a debt of $4,500 or more in clinic services, the Times reported. If patients accrue $1,500 or more in hospital debt three times, they are also denied care, according to the Times. The policy does not apply to emergency room visits but includes children and refuses patients until the debt is paid, the Times reported.

Such practices are not uncommon, with around 20 percent of hospitals across the country having similar policies in place, according to the Times, which reported Allina in 2020 spent under 0.5 percent of expenses on charity care versus a national average of roughly 2 percent at nonprofit hospitals.

“Allina Health will take a thoughtful pause on any new interruptions to non-emergent, outpatient clinic scheduling while we re-examine our policy,” the healthcare provider said in a statement on its website.

“As part of this thoughtful pause, we will engage community partners in important dialogue about reducing barriers to care and the collective role we all play in that process.”

Attorney General Keith Ellison is asking potentially affected patients to contact his office, KARE 11 reported.

"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,” Ellison told the outlet.

Allina has said it is in compliance with the agreement and would welcome a conversation with Ellison, according to KARE 11.

Anyone in need of financial support or with questions about eligibility should visit the financial assistance page at allinahealth.org, according to the provider.