DERBY — Griffin Health apologized Sunday for accidentally billing people who received COVID-19 vaccinations.
The issue came to light after several local residents used Ansonia Facebook community pages asking why they had received documentation from Griffin saying they owed money for the shots.
The shots are free, but medical providers can bill insurance companies an administrative fee.
In a 9 p.m. post to Facebook Sunday, Griffin Health explained the organization learned of the mistake Friday, describing it as a “coding error that caused some individuals who received COVID-19 vaccination at a Griffin community outreach vaccination clinic to be incorrectly billed for vaccine administration.”
The healthcare company didn’t say how many people were billed or at which clinic the mistake originated. It’s also unclear how many people actually paid the bill, though Griffin said anyone who did so will receive a refund. The company also didn’t send out a formal press release, but relied on its Facebook page to alert the masses.
Griffin staffers started calling patients Friday, telling them to ignore the bill. The organization also said a letter will be sent documenting the error.
“Griffin Apologized for any worry or inconvenience this mistake may have caused,” the organization posted on Facebook.
FYI, Griffin also posted COVID-19 vaccination info on its Facebook page, which is copied below:
FREE WALK-UP VACCINATION CLINIC
NOLAN FIELD, ANSONIA
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
FREE COVID-19 vaccinations – no appointment required. Please bring a photo ID and insurance information if you have them (not required).
Johnson & Johnson or 1st dose of Pfizer will be administered.
2nd dose of Pfizer can be administered at the walk-in clinic at the Ansonia Armory Thursdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., or at the Griffin Health Vaccination Centers at 10 Progress Dr., Shelton and 727 Rubber Ave., Naugatuck.
