Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic says it has not changed its practices for treating patients following a video memo by President and CEO John Noseworthy, MD, in which he told staff to prioritize care for commercially insured patients over those covered by Medicare and Medicaid, reports the Post Bulletin.
"Mayo Clinic's practices for patient access to treatment have not been changed and we will continue to provide Minnesota Medicaid patients the same access to appointments as commercially insured patients," Dr. John Noseworthy wrote in response to a letter from Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper, according to the report.
Ms. Piper initiated a review of Mayo in March for possible violations of civil and human rights laws, as well as the academic medical center's contracts with DHS.
"Fundamentally, it's our expectation at DHS that Mayo Clinic will serve our enrollees in public programs on an equal standing with any other Minnesotan that walks in their door," Ms. Piper said in March, according to the report.
Ms. Piper sent Mayo Clinic a letter two weeks ago with 14 questions related to the issue. Mayo replied with the answers March 28. Ms. Piper's office is currently working on a response to the clinic's answers, according to the report.
In the video memo, which was recorded in late 2016, Dr. Noseworthy had said, "We're asking … if the patient has commercial insurance, or they're Medicaid or Medicare patients and they're equal, that we prioritize the commercial insured patients enough so … we can be financially strong at the end of the year to continue to advance, advance our mission." He also referred to the ACA and the resulting increase in enrollment in the state's expanded Medicaid program as a "tipping point."