New Yorkers who were wrongfully charged for COVID-19 vaccines by Northwell Health-GoHealth will get a refund.
The office of New York Attorney General Letitia James found that Northwell-GoHealth – which operates 57 urgent care clinics in the state – charged up to 731 patients a total of $14,996.05 in improper fees.
Under the Centers for Disease Control Provider Agreement providers were required to administer COVID vaccines at no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. That was in effect until September 12, 2023.
“Due to administrative errors, Northwell-GoHealth instead charged as many as 731 New Yorkers who received COVID-19 vaccines at their clinics approximately $28 per vaccine dose,” said a news release from the state Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
“As a result, 451 patients or their guarantors made out-of-pocket payments to satisfy charges they should not have received, and unpaid accounts associated with 72 vaccine doses were sent to collections for reimbursement.”
Northwell-GoHealth will notify all impacted consumers.
In addition, it will need to pay a $25,000 fine and strengthen employee compliance with applicable laws for COVID-19 vaccine billing.
The OAG launched an investigation into Northwell-GoHealth after getting complaints from New Yorkers.
“During the pandemic state of emergency, COVID-19 vaccines were free to all who wanted them,” said Attorney General Letitia James.
“Clinics should be careful in ensuring that New Yorkers were not improperly charged fees for these vaccines and should take steps to refund any payments wrongfully charged and received. I encourage anyone who believes they may have been billed for a COVID-19 vaccine that was supposed to be free to reach out to my office," she said.
New Yorkers who believe they were improperly charged a fee for a COVID-19 vaccine can submit a complaint to OAG’s Health Care Bureau or call 1-800-428-9071.
