Accretive Health has refuted the Minnesota Attorney General's allegations that the debt collection agency denied access to care and pressured patients at bedside to pay medical bills out of pocket.
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson filed suit against Accretive last week, claiming the agency did not protect patient confidentiality or inform patients of its extensive involvement in their healthcare.
"The inaccuracies, innuendo and unfounded speculation that have been part of the Minnesota Attorney General's recent allegations are extensive," Accretive's prepared statement reads. "The suggestion that our focus or practice is to put bedside pressure on patients to pay their medical bills out of pocket is a flagrant distortion of fact. Where the patient owes part of the bill, we examine each and every episode of care to ensure that patients are not improperly charged and that the insurance companies are held accountable for what they owe to providers."
The agency also denied allegations that patients are not informed of the degree to which Accretive is involved in their healthcare. "One of our fundamental principles is that patients should never believe that the critical work we do has interfered with their access to care," the statement reads.
Congressman Pete Stark (D-Calif.) has also requested CMS and the Office of Inspector General investigate Accretive for potential violations of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, a federal law requiring hospitals to provide emergency care regardless of patients' citizenship, legal status or ability to pay.
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Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson filed suit against Accretive last week, claiming the agency did not protect patient confidentiality or inform patients of its extensive involvement in their healthcare.
"The inaccuracies, innuendo and unfounded speculation that have been part of the Minnesota Attorney General's recent allegations are extensive," Accretive's prepared statement reads. "The suggestion that our focus or practice is to put bedside pressure on patients to pay their medical bills out of pocket is a flagrant distortion of fact. Where the patient owes part of the bill, we examine each and every episode of care to ensure that patients are not improperly charged and that the insurance companies are held accountable for what they owe to providers."
The agency also denied allegations that patients are not informed of the degree to which Accretive is involved in their healthcare. "One of our fundamental principles is that patients should never believe that the critical work we do has interfered with their access to care," the statement reads.
Congressman Pete Stark (D-Calif.) has also requested CMS and the Office of Inspector General investigate Accretive for potential violations of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, a federal law requiring hospitals to provide emergency care regardless of patients' citizenship, legal status or ability to pay.
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