ALBANY, N.Y., February 6, 2025 — The Albany Med Health System and CDPHP announced today the organizations have agreed on a new two-year contract which keeps the system in-network and avoids any disruption in care for CDPHP members. Separately, CDPHP has also agreed to reimburse the system for care provided to the insurance company’s members in 2024. The proposal was approved by the Albany Med Health System Board of Directors.
“We are grateful to reach an agreement that preserves our valued patients’ access to the high-quality care they expect and deserve,” said Albany Med Health System President and CEO Dennis P. McKenna, MD. “Many of the advanced services we offer cannot be found anywhere else locally. This agreement recognizes the indispensable role our Albany Med hospitals and health care teams hold in the health of our region. It also acknowledges what is required to provide that care to the people we serve.”
In August 2024, CDPHP notified Albany Med of its intent to begin withholding payments related to the Medicare Wage Index. The withhold related to a new federal rule, which after nearly 40 years of reimbursements at a lower rate for hospitals, increased Medicare payments to hospitals without a corresponding increase in Medicare Advantage payments received by CDPHP and other insurance providers. The rule created a new, unfunded mandate for small, regional health plans, like CDPHP, which provide coverage to patients under private Medicare Advantage plans. By December 2024, CDPHP had withheld $30 million in payments related to the wage index. As part of the agreement, CDPHP will pay Albany Med for the withheld amounts, and Albany Med has dropped its lawsuit against CDPHP.
CDPHP President and CEO Brian O’Grady said the insurer is committed to a contract that covers the necessary cost of care and to collaborating with the Albany Med Health System to maintain and elevate access to care moving forward.
“As a not-for-profit health plan with deep roots in our community, we are grateful to the Albany Med Health System for coming to the table and arriving at a solution that protects those who matter most – our members and their patients. This fair and equitable contract ensures uninterrupted access to critical health care services,” O’Grady said.
Comprised of Albany Medical Center, Albany Medical College, Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital, Saratoga Hospital, and the Visiting Nurses, the Albany Med Health System is the largest locally governed, not-for-profit health system serving northeastern New York and western New England. The System is the region’s largest private employer, and each member institution carries a century-long tradition caring for our communities. The Albany Med Health System has 1,520 hospital beds, more than 800 physicians, 125 outpatient locations, a children’s hospital, and research enterprise serving the three million people of our region.
Established in 1984, CDPHP is a physician-founded, member-focused and community-based not-for-profit health plan that offers high-quality affordable health insurance plans to members in 36 counties throughout New York. CDPHP is also on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Hey there! If you’ve recently visited Albany Medical Center or one of their affiliated facilities, you’re probably wondering how to handle your medical bills. I’ve been there – those medical statements can be confusing and sometimes downright overwhelming. The good news is that Albany Med has made it much easier to pay your bills with their online system, especially since they’ve unified their billing across the Albany Med Health System.
In this complete guide I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about paying your Albany Med bill – from online options to financial assistance programs that might help if you’re struggling to pay.
What’s New with Albany Med Bill Pay in 2025
First things first – Albany Med has made some big changes to their billing system over the past year. As of November 2, 2024, the entire Albany Med Health System is using the MyChart patient portal for billing. This is a huge improvement that makes managing your medical bills much more convenient.
The system now includes:
- Albany Medical Center
- Albany Medical College
- Columbia Memorial Health
- Glens Falls Hospital
- Saratoga Hospital
- Visiting Nurses
This means no matter which Albany Med facility you visited, you can manage all your bills in one place. No more juggling different online portals or payment systems!
Ways to Pay Your Albany Med Bill
Let’s break down all the different ways you can pay your Albany Medical Center bill:
1. Online Payment Through MyChart (Recommended)
The easiest way to pay your bill is through the MyChart patient portal. Here’s how:
- Go to MyChart and log in with your username and password
- Look for the “Billing” section
- Select the bill you want to pay
- Enter your payment information
- Submit your payment
Don’t have a MyChart account yet? No problem! You can still pay as a guest by selecting “Pay as Guest” on the MyChart login page. You’ll need the pay by phone code listed on your statement.
For bills issued after March 2, 2024 (for Albany Medical Center) or after November 2, 2024 (for other Albany Med Health System facilities), MyChart is definitely the way to go.
2. Pay by Phone
If you prefer talking to someone or don’t have internet access, you can pay by phone:
- Call 877-522-5645
- Enter the unique pay by phone code listed on your statement
- Follow the automated prompts to make your payment
This option works for both older bills and newer ones issued after the MyChart transition.
3. Pay in Person
If you like handling things face-to-face, you can pay your bill in person:
Location:
Patient Billing Services
1275 Broadway
Albany, NY 12204
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
They accept cash, check, and credit card payments. This is also a great option if you have questions about your bill that you’d like to discuss with someone directly.
4. Pay by Mail
You can also mail your payment to:
Albany Med Health System
PO Box 981006
Boston, MA 02298-1006
Just be sure to include your account number on your check or money order!
Understanding Your Albany Med Bill
Before you pay, it’s important to understand what you’re being charged for. Medical bills can be confusing with all their codes and terminology. When you log into MyChart, you’ll be able to see a breakdown of your charges.
Here are some tips for understanding your bill:
- Match service dates – Check that the dates on your bill match when you actually received care
- Review all charges – Look for any services you don’t recognize
- Check insurance payments – Make sure your insurance covered what they should have
- Look for duplicate charges – Sometimes the same service might accidentally be billed twice
If anything on your bill doesn’t make sense, don’t hesitate to call the billing department at 518-264-7729 (for bills after March 2, 2024) or 518-262-2800 (for older bills).
Financial Assistance Options
Let’s be honest – medical bills can be expensive, and not everyone has the means to pay them in full right away. Luckily, Albany Med offers several financial assistance programs.
Albany Med Health System Financial Assistance Program
If you’re uninsured or have limited income, you may qualify for reduced or free care through the Albany Med Health System Financial Assistance Program. This program applies to all areas of the Albany Med Health System and uses a sliding scale based on federal poverty guidelines and family size.
To apply for financial assistance:
- Log into your MyChart account and complete the online application, OR
- Download and submit the Financial Assistance Application form
New York State Programs
You might also qualify for these New York State programs:
- Adult Medicaid (Ages 19-64)
- Family Health Plus (Ages 19-64)
- Child Health Plus A (Children’s Medicaid for ages 0-18)
- Child Health Plus B (Ages 0-18)
- NY State of Health (The Official Health Plan Marketplace)
If you’re not sure which program might be right for you, call 518-264-7729 and select option 2 to speak with someone about charity care inquiries.
Setting Up Auto-Pay and Paperless Billing
I highly recommend setting up auto-pay through MyChart if you have recurring bills. It’s saved me so much time and I never have to worry about forgetting a payment.
To enable auto-pay:
- Log into your MyChart account
- Go to Billing > Auto-Pay
- Select your payment method
- Pick your payment date
- Review terms and enable auto-pay
Wanna go paperless too? It’s super easy:
- In MyChart, go to Account Settings > Communication
- Select “Turn off paper bills”
- Confirm your preferences
You’ll get email notifications when new bills are ready to view in MyChart, which means less paper clutter and more trees saved!
Common Albany Med Billing Questions
Q: What if I received a bill from before the MyChart transition?
For bills made payable to Albany Medical Center Hospital issued before March 2, 2024, you can still pay online through the old system. For bills from other Albany Med Health System facilities issued before November 2, 2024, check the specific facility’s instructions.
Q: How do I pay my Albany Med EmUrgentCare bill?
For EmUrgentCare bills issued after March 2, 2024, use MyChart. For bills issued before that date, use the separate EmUrgentCare online payment system.
Q: What if my bill went to collections?
If your account has been sent to collections, contact the collection agency directly. Their contact information should be on any correspondence you’ve received from them.
Q: Can I set up a payment plan?
Yes! Albany Med offers interest-free monthly payment plans. Contact the billing department at 518-264-7729 to discuss your options.
Tips for Staying Organized with Medical Bills
Managing medical bills can be a real headache, especially if you’re dealing with multiple providers. Here are some tips I’ve found helpful:
- File bills right away so they don’t get lost
- Use folders to separate bills by provider and year
- Log into MyChart regularly to check for new bills
- Make notes on bills for questions or issues
- Compare bills against insurance EOBs to verify accuracy
- Track payments in a spreadsheet or notebook
Final Thoughts
Paying your Albany Med bill doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. With the MyChart system now in place across the entire Albany Med Health System, it’s easier than ever to view and pay your bills online.
Remember, if you’re having trouble understanding your bill or are concerned about your ability to pay, don’t hesitate to reach out to Albany Med’s billing department. They’re there to help you navigate the process and find solutions that work for you.
Meet the Media Relations Team
Today, she uses her journalism background to help patients and the public make sense of complex health care topics.
