On June 4th, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced an agreement with the largest healthcare institution in New York, Northwell Health, to expand financial assistance coverage. This initiative aims to help uninsured or underinsured New Yorkers access necessary medical services while also limiting unnecessary medical debt collection. Under this agreement, individuals and families with annual incomes below five times the federal poverty line will qualify for free or discounted medical services.
According to the information released by Attorney General Letitia James’s office, individuals with incomes below five times the Federal Poverty Level, which amounts to $75,300 for individuals and $156,000 for a family of four, are eligible under the agreement. Uninsured or underinsured patients with incomes at or below two times the federal poverty line will receive free medical services. Patients with incomes three to five times the federal poverty line will receive medical services at discounted rates based on Medicaid or Medicare fee schedules.
Northwell Health has also committed to deploying additional staff to assist patients in applying for financial aid and significantly reducing medical debt collection practices.
In her statement, Letitia James highlighted how many New Yorkers delay essential healthcare appointments due to high medical costs or end up burdened with debt after receiving emergency care. This agreement is expected to provide crucial financial assistance to New Yorkers receiving treatment at Northwell Health facilities, alleviating patients’ concerns. It is hoped that other hospitals in New York will follow this example.
Letitia James expressed concerns about the significant financial burden medical debt can impose, especially on low-income individuals, the uninsured or underinsured, communities of color, immigrants, and individuals with disabilities. Even insured New Yorkers often forgo or delay necessary healthcare services due to high out-of-pocket costs or insufficient coverage.
Under New York’s Hospital Financial Assistance Law and state tax regulations, nonprofit hospitals are required to offer financial assistance to low-income consumers and are prohibited from engaging in aggressive debt collection practices. Letitia James noted that this agreement expands Northwell’s financial assistance program beyond state law requirements, benefiting more New York patients.
According to the press release from the Attorney General’s office, Northwell Health will maintain these policies for five years and provide annual reports on its financial assistance program to the office of the Attorney General and the institution’s board of directors.
The agreement applies to all 21 Northwell Health hospitals, as well as 56 Northwell Health clinics in New York City and Long Island. For a detailed list of clinics, please refer to the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2brzyxrv.