Accretive Health asks for advice on collecting bills from Shalala, Leavitt

The Chicago-based company that was subject of a scathing report in April from Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson is convening national policy leaders to set standards for how hospitals should inform patients about the money they owe for healthcare. In a news release issued Tuesday, May 15, Accretive Health Inc. said the discussion will be led by Michael Leavitt—a former governor of Utah and secretary of Health and Human Services during the George W. Bush administration—and will include input from former Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and other national policy leaders. The company's news release Tuesday said Donna Shalala, the Health and Human Services secretary during the Clinton administration, and former Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., also have agreed to serve as advisers.