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In response to some public criticism, the Cleveland Clinic last week re-engineered a controversial policy that would have required patients to pay insurance co-pays upfront or risk having their appointments canceled on the spot. Initially set to begin June 1, the policy faced backlash from patient advocates and city officials, who warned the pay-first requirement could limit access to care for low-income families. The original pay-first policy excluded Medicaid and traditional Medicare enrollees as well as patients receiving cancer care, for example, but it applied to most outpatient services. Within days of the original notice, the Clinic announced that patients with commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage will now be allowed to receive care without upfront payment and can instead set up 0% interest payment plans with financial assistance. Appointments won’t be cancelled, but patients will need to fill out payment paperwork.
Bad debt: The Clinic cited its $70 million worth of unpaid co-pays in 2024 as a main reason for the initial policy, but it now aims to balance financial drag with equitable care access. Local city council members applauded the shift after calling the original policy “a slap in the face” of residents, according to Cleveland.com.