Nonprofit hospitals like Allina get enormous tax breaks in exchange for providing care for the poorest people in their communities. Allina has an explicit policy for cutting off patients who owe money for services they received at the health system’s 90 clinics. A 12-page document reviewed by The Times instructs Allina’s staff on how to cancel appointments for patients with at least $4,500 of unpaid debt. The hospital system cuts off patients only if they have racked up at least $1,500 of unpaid debt three separate times. “Allina Health’s goal is, and will always be, to have zero patients go without services for financial reasons,” Ms. Bergerson said.

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Persons: Allina, Allina’s, ”, Matt Hoffman, Conny Bergerson, “ Allina, Ms, Bergerson Organizations: New York Times, The Times Locations: Vadnais Heights, Minn