New York AG Negotiates Agreement with Health Care System to Increase Financial Assistance for Patients

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced earlier this month that her office had entered into a "historic agreement" with Northwell Health to provide greater financial assistance to that nonprofit health system's patients. According to the press release:

[U]ninsured and under-insured New Yorkers receiving necessary medical care and earning under five times the federal poverty level, $75,300 for an individual or $156,000 for a family of four, will be eligible for free or discounted care. Northwell has also committed to dedicating more staff to help patients apply for financial assistance and significantly reducing medical debt collection

According to the AG's press release, the agreement grew out of an investigation sparked by complaints from patients who had gone to Northwell emergency rooms for COVID-19 tests only to receive bills with standard emergency room charges. As part of the agreement, Northwell also agreed to refund over $400,000 in charges to over 2,000 patients and to pay $650,000 in penalties to the state. 

Northwell's take on the settlement can be found here. Coverage: HealthcareDive.

Lloyd Mayer