NEW YORK — The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has secured refunds for hundreds of New Yorkers wrongfully billed for COVID-19 vaccines by Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care clinics.

Providers were required to administer COVID-19 vaccines at no out-of-pocket cost to the patient, under the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Provider Agreement regarding COVID-19 vaccine distribution that was in effect until September 12, 2023. The OAG followed complaints from New Yorkers who were billed for COVID-19 vaccines before this time. 

Northwell-GoHealth operates 57 urgent care clinics in the state. It wrongly charged up to 731 patients for COVID-19 vaccines, collecting $15 thousand in improper fees, the OAG found. The company also sent 72 unpaid bills for COVID-19 vaccines to collections.

By the terms of an agreement announced on February 12, Northwell-GoHealth has reimbursed all wrongly charged New Yorkers, agreed to strengthen compliance with proper billing, and will pay a $25,000 penalty, according to the OAG.

“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.”

To submit a complaint to the OAG’s Health Care Bureau, call 1-800-428-9071.