Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*
Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol
Already have an account?
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Health
Matt Sepic
Minneapolis

Allina halts policy denying non-emergency care to debtors

A brick building of a clinic
Allina Health clinic in Hastings, Minn.
Tony Webster | Flickr

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Allina Health promised Wednesday to no longer prohibit people with outstanding medical debt from making new appointments.

In June, the Minneapolis-based system put the practice on hold temporarily after a New York Times investigation revealed that the nonprofit health system refused to provide certain types of non-emergency care to patients with at least $4,500 in medical debt.

Allina said in a statement that after an extensive review, the system will “formally transition away” from the practice and will “engage our clinical teams and technology differently” to provide financial assistance to patients who need it.

Allina's announcement came a few hours ahead of a 5:30 p.m. public listening session on medical billing that Attorney General Keith Ellison scheduled at the Minnesota Department of Revenue building in St. Paul. Ellison also plans to hold a similar forum in Rochester on Sept. 12.

Ellison said in his own statement Wednesday that he's pleased with Allina’s new policy, but will continue to investigate the system’s “past conduct and future practices."