After patients flooded the state Department of Financial Services with complaints about PPE fees, particularly charged by dental care providers, the department sent a letter to insurers asking them to tell providers they cannot charge PPE fees and that all money collected from such fees must be refunded.
The governor’s office determined these charges were inappropriate based on the belief that insured patients should not be liable for fees that exceed what has been outlined in their insurance policies.
“In these uncertain times, as many New Yorkers are struggling to make ends meet, healthcare providers should not be creating additional financial burdens on their patients,” Mr. Cuomo said in a new release. “This action will ensure that New Yorkers are protected against excessive fees associated with the necessary and at times live-saving care they need.”
The state Department of Financial Services is asking insurers to report the total amount providers have collected from PPE fees, how many patients were charged and a plan for refunding such fees within the next three months.
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