Loophole allowed UCHealth to sue thousands of patients for years under another business’ name

As the Colorado’s largest and most prominent medical provider insisted it was “not hiding anything,” an exhaustive investigation discovered UCHealth, for years, used what amounted to a loophole in the state’s court system to keep private its aggressive bill collection practices.
The investigation, led by 9NEWS and the Colorado Sun, prompted the state legislature to quickly close the loophole that had allowed UCHealth to sue thousands of patients for years under another business’ name. UCHealth is short for University of Colorado Health.
Legislators called the project’s findings “shocking” as they quickly passed HB-1380 which will, starting this fall, force hospital systems to sue patients under their own names on debts the systems still own.
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[@shihtzusrule9115]

Take away their nonprofit status and stop the state money if they want to sue patients. It's hard to find out who owns the UCHealth and Pudre Valley Hospital - they own each other. VCs and hedge funds are buying medical systems.

[@prg66]

Absolutely remove their Non-profit status they if they were a true nonprofit they would write off the debt.

[@LesCish]

@@prg66 Sadly, that's not the case. Healthcare nonprofit status is a category apart from other nonprofits. They are just as focused on maximizing revenue as any other outfit.

[@MG-iu4eh]

EXACTLY!

[@usainengland]

For profit medical care is even worse. I wish every American the healthcare that I receive in the UK. 3 chronic illnesses and not a penny paid for 12 years, including medication. The medication that costed over $1300/month in 2011. Healthcare is a right.

[@darwinawardcommittee]

@@usainengland Half the people in these comments probably vote for republicans (and conservative Democrats let’s be honest) who will fight tooth and nail against any government paid healthcare. In the same breath they will whine about this non profit not writing off their bills - which means they just have to overcharge people who have insurance. Insurance industry doesn’t care if they overpay as long as they get their large cut of the upward spiraling healthcare costs. There is a reason we pay 2 to 3 times per capita for healthcare. It’s a shell game complicated enough to confuse the rubes and enrich the insurance lobby.

[@PyroRob69]

UCHealth is crooked as hell. That Chief Legal Officer is slimy enough, she can barely look at the reporter.

[@sreys877]

I was going to say that she has that smirk on her face. She seems to be very proud of her position. She'll have her karma in the future.

[@zoundstreetop]

She smirked. Shes a narcissist, bet you anything.

[@DeadSezSo]

She had HORRIBLE dupers delight the ENTIRE interview. She couldn't stop smirking because she KNOWS it is bs.

[@zoundstreetop]

@@DeadSezSo she reminded me of Diane Downs. She is delighting in ruining lives. Avoid UCHealth!

[@styphlynne8253]

Ruins citizens lives !

[@BanFamilyVlogging]

She lied to your face when she said that the lawsuits are “exceedingly rare.”

[@styphlynne8253]

Its the USA way ! money, control, power, greed, lies

[@danielmorse4213]

I like her smirk. Sociopaths often do.

[@esta8651]

Honestly, that is more confusing 🫤

[@XDaddyBender]

@@styphlynne8253 It's the idiot euro trash's way to blame everything bad on America. For someone who practices yoga and meditation you sure do spill a lot of hate and vitriol.

[@Blue0cean]

We citizens should be able to counter sue for pain, suffering, time, and expenses

[@ManyfiresWoman]

I learned one thing from Channel 9's investigation...do NOT go to UCHealth (University of Colorado Health)! Glad they closed that loophole to protect patients.

[@maurreese]

Thank you for exposing this crooked behavior!!!!

[@poppy4511]

UC Health sells all their debt, under different names. I was a victim as well. They bulked several small unpaid charges over 4 yrs, total amount was $200. Was summoned to court to pay over $900 to the debit collector. It’s disgusting.

[@SassyShay7]

I li!e to see an audit of UC Health board members, who is involved in those other companies .....

[@Jimmyjimjimjim]

Well you should have paid the $200.

[@Magiczero598]

@@Jimmyjimjimjimsince you weren’t paying attention, many people didn’t even know they owed anything, didn’t even receive a bill.

[@Jimmyjimjimjim]

@@Magiczero598 I paid attention @ZeroMagicSkills Perhaps you should. She said she owned $200.

[@Jimmyjimjimjim]

@@Magiczero598 since you weren't paying attention she said she owed $200 🤣🤣🤣

[@IronLB-rv3jk]

Absolutely REPREHENSIBLE!!!! Shame on you UCHealth!!!!!!!!

[@LesCish]

Agree 100% As the Duke researcher notes, this is far from uncommon.

[@DeenaMilkers]

scumbags, especially the woman lawyer who lied through her teeth

[@EasyKill7]

Here is what I have learned. If you need medical care, do not use UC Health- go somewhere else.

[@usainengland]

Great advice, except when there’s an emergency & UCHealth is the closest. Healthcare is a right, not an expensive privilege.

[@ColoradoMntn1222]

Those poor people. This is not a non-profit. Revoke non-profit status!!

[@Charlezard1985]

@ColoradoMntn1222 you seem to be confusing non-profit with "charity". They have every right to sue if someone refuses to pay for services they provided.

[@ColoradoMntn1222]

@@Charlezard1985 I didn't say anything about charities. I believe their status as a non-profit should be removed and they should have to pay the same taxes as other business entities who operate with the same exact practices. They are not any more special than businesses that have the same protocols.

[@mjt1517]

@@Charlezard1985this organization is crooked af bro. Don’t defend these vampires. Watch the video.

[@bffvintage8162]

@chaneliswell89amen!

[@unbreakable7633]

Predatory healthcare. A lot of providers are like this. My wife passed years ago and I still get bill collectors call about debts she owed for healthcare that are beyond the statute of limitations. They don't give up.

[@user-eh5cr4or6k]

They shouldn't even be able to initiate debt collection until they have sent a line item by item breakdown of the charges that they are suing for. And they shouldn't be able to sue it all unless they notified you of the cost for services prior to and received written authorization for initiating those services. Charging somebody 24,000 for an hour and a half visit in an emergency room is absolutely ridiculous an unscrupulous price gouging.

[@easy288]

Absolutely. Also demand the medical records. 'clerical errors' are frequently made.

[@easy288]

If the debt was sold, collection agency may not have the itemized bill or the medical records. That puts agency into a spot hard to climb out of.

[@lifespanwellnessbeauty-60i64]

Many hospitals have ways for people to apply for payment for the indigent or those without insurance. It is a social service type process where another entity pays the bill. When you apply for this, the bill gets paid and you never get a bill. However, if you aren't told about it, or make a big deal enough deal about not having insurance beforehand, they may not tell you about it.

[@TheAcenightcreeper]

100%….all of the charges should be up front and agreed upon prior….

[@debbiej.2168]

Good job uncovering this. Makes this hospital look extremely slimy!

[@ChubbyUnicorn]

Why doesn't UChealth have to prove they attempted to work with customers and to collect in good faith before taking people to court? Every other business has to prove this with customers.

[@TheOsfania]

Untrue.

[@darwinawardcommittee]

@@ChubbyUnicorn Nobody has to prove working with anyone. They send you a bill and you pay it.

[@debracisneroshhp2827]

@@darwinawardcommittee , If [the] case goes to court they must provide evidence they made attempts. 😺

[@darwinawardcommittee]

@@debracisneroshhp2827 What attempts? Send some guys to the house to say pretty please? Every bill I’ve ever received from a hospital always has a paragraph that says “if you can’t pay the bill in full please call to make payment arrangements.”

[@vivalaleta]

Investigative journalism on the side of the average Joe is what's going to save area news channels. Good job.

[@evilborg]

That's really disgusting...... and I'll bet most of these people are low income they are going after.

[@brotherbruns2989]

They don’t sue under their own name to protect their “reputation” and get the money. They outsourced their accounts receivable department.

[@amiedavis5257]

Ohhh...I smell a CMS audit! I just pray CMS actually DOES their job.

[@Sentientdreamer]

Wow... UCHealth, shame on you.

[@nancienordwick4169]

Non-profit status only requires 10% to charity. It's a joke. Non-profit status should also have regulated executive salaries and define allowable expenses as only those directly relating to the charitable activity.

[@MG-iu4eh]

The women who can’t get her charges re-coded by hospital so her insurance will pay, she needs to sue for amount owed plus! It’s their job to submit correctly coded billing over to your insurance company!

[@Leeniebean]

uc health's legal lady isn't being truthful. how can she defend the baloney

[@sharonhines3476]

She's a sociopath and she's getting paid very well to lie for the hospital.

[@AbNomal621]

Abuses by supposed non-profit organizations should result in the organization’s executive leadership being fined and banned from working any other non-profit or any government job. Or… the organization can lose their status and pay back taxes including penalties.

[@gamtngirl3655]

This was horrible. Such corporate greed and dishonesty.

[@msvaleriah]

I only went to them once, for a hip evaluation and was charged $500 for a doctor's consultation. She suggested a $2500 treatment that "might" help until I was able to schedule replacement surgery. I went to another provider who took images and still only charged me half of what UCHealth wanted. I asked about the treatment that the UCHealth doctor recommended and was advised that what was suggested would absolutely not help. I'll never go back there willingly. They're money grubbers.

[@debracisneroshhp2827]

That's why it's always advisable to get a second, even third, opinion if it's not an emergency situation. 😺

[@msvaleriah]

@@debracisneroshhp2827 That I have! The orthopedic doctor and clinic I chose charged me less than half of what UCHealth did, and that included the x-rays they took to evaluate me. What I was charged for at UCHealth was simply a consultation with x-rays provided. I'm much happier now and working toward getting my replacement done with them. I have a little more weight to lose.

[@barbarabrooks4747]

If they would charge a reasonable amount, most people would agree to make monthly payments. There should be a law requiring the original creditor to be listed on the bills.

[@j.kelsey9926]

If they don’t sue then the execs can’t have their bonuses. The money is not going to the doctors but the corporate executives

[@claudialunden3691]

Being dyslexic, I read uchealth as ucheat.

[@andyevans2336]

I’m not dyslexic, but I see it as the same

[@sharonobryan9713]

It sounds like a lie from the beginning. "99.9% of our patients get through the process without any involvement from a collections agency or a court." What hospital, or any other collextion agency doesn't write-off AT LEAST .1% of their expected collections routinely? They get incentives from different entities to provide "charity care" when patients can't pay. The business between healthcare and collection agencies is disgusting.

[@ddlang2514]

This is unbelievable! How can they treat patients with such blatant disregard?!? It needs to change.

[@BettyofOOO]

Great journalism, thank you so much for going after these predators who insist on preying on our most vulnerable citizens.

[@thecontinental8978]

Debt collectors have to show signed documents or proof of debt?

[@LesCish]

3,000 suits in 3 years is not "exceedingly rare". Kudos to those reporters. First, healthcare prices and costs are out of control. Second, hospital systems are the largest sources of costs. As the Duke researcher notes, there's no meaningful difference between for-profit and nonprofit. Both pursue maximizing revenue. Because "prices" are negotiated by insurance companies, it's the uninsured who are billed at the highest rates, often 5 or 10-fold what insurance would pay. Juxtapose those with debt collection laws that would baffle anybody, and you wind up with 3,000 lawsuits per year, many on unsuspecting victims.

[@janemiettinen5176]

What a perfect healthcare system you have in US… for hospitals, insurance companies, collectors and other hang arounds. “We aim to work with our patients” - this is anything but, this is ambushing, avoiding and scamming! Do better.

[@calebfielding6352]

its called monopolies. The government has given health systems monopolies and monopolies suck

[@janemiettinen5176]

@@calebfielding6352 Im a Finn, here we have monopoly on harder spirits, only one store to get stronger booze inside our borders. But there is no surprise bills later, hidden costs or basic scumminess. Our railway used to be another one, same thing.. It’s not just about being a monopoly, it’s greed, shamelessness and not seeing others as fully human. Thats my experience anyway.

[@LeeSmith-f4f]

She is smerking the whole time. Lies, lies and more lies.

[@georgem6068]

These clowns sent me to collections after bungling the billing, trying to collect from insurance I had 10 years prior. Inept and unprofessional billing practices. Apparently no improvement in the last few years. UC Motto: "We'll screw the billing AND you!"

[@Callidus7SSM]

“We’re not hiding from anything” Is hiding everything

[@ViolentOrchid]

How are you trying to work with your patients if you are hiding behind another company? They are a liars. How can you say you want to work with patients if you are hiding the fact that the debt is with you?

[@samhavoc1066]

When someone starts their sentence with "honestly", subconsciously they're preparing to say something that isn't.

[@shadowscall7758]

That's not always true. It can also mean they are about to say something that might be candid or the other person doesn't want to hear, but is true.

[@johnharbaugh9471]

Another state that I'm concerned about traveling thru, let alone retire in.

[@donnam5060]

The prices u insured pay should be the same as insurers get charged. If an insurer pays $400-500 for a CT, uninsured should pay the average amount that insurers pay...$450. $25k is price gouging

[@dhrubasaha08]

In India, I can get a CT for 25$(I live in a small town through)

[@NA_49erFan]

Great Journalism! Thanks

[@utopianna]

There's a saying "Everybody does it." This is the tip of the iceberg nationwide. And not only for the uninsured rip-offs, but the insurance company racket (racketeering). Which includes conventional insurance, Medicare & Medicaid. Patients are afraid to say anything if they happen to escape the clutches of the system themselves.

[@joekev27]

If this happened to me I'd be spending every free time i have sitting in front of the hospital with a sign protesting.

[@angelainamarie9656]

You know a couple years ago I was trying to get an appointment with these people and they were so bad at running their business that they ended up not only canceling my appointment but they simply couldn't find a doctor for me for a while. Fortunately I found somebody else and now I'm glad I did.

[@perishablegoods1344]

something similar seemed to have happened to my oldest son at University Hospitals in Cleveland - paying down almost $50,000 from life saving surgery - He recently found a LUMP but has no means to get ANY healthcare until this bill is paid off and he can save $ and pay for a regular Dr. appt -- Sad because he's working in PAIN while right next door to a hospital with Sonogram that might aid in diagnoses of The Lump in his man parts :(

[@jamesdrake2378]

UCHealth wins in court because they show up with a team of lawyers and the person being sued can't afford a lawyer.

[@MissTopDJ007]

This is why every citizen should have education in law starting high school.

[@writerconsidered]

How can you prove a debt without referring to the hospital. All debt has an originator. You can't prove a debt without a service provided attached to that debt.

[@robertf976]

Sick of these evil sociopaths

[@Darci3333]

They need to take a very hard scrutinizing look at ALL HEALTH CARE AND HOSPITALS as it has gotten well beyond gouging and reprehensible what they charge and charge for. It is completely out of hand and control and something needs to happen to help people quit being their helpless victims😢

[@alicegilbert4186]

This is terrible

[@jgsg2620]

These ppl need to start putting these hospital ppl on speaker phone n have the home camera pick up the convos n then they can go bck n prove what each one of these ppl said n it’s sad that u shd start bringin in a camera when u get shit done at the hospital but it most likely will come to that since hospital r trying to fuck ppl n sayin they had one thing done when they didn’t.

[@thecontinental8978]

If it’s already at collection then your credit is already impacted so why would anyone pay?

[@hulagirlhands]

This is really great investigative journalism.

[@user-eh5cr4or6k]

Counter sue for unscrupulous collection practices?

[@dianedenham5259]

Class action

[@mbbno]

Hospitals should never sell "debts" to debt collectors. Debt collectors are unscrupulous and lack basic cyber security. There also needs to be heavy regulations on the debt collection industry. Why should a debt collector who a patient has no relationship with and gave no permission to, have that patient's personal data including social security number.

[@jenkor513]

StFrancic hospital is doing the same thing here in Topeka ks. And they are doing it to vets who have vouchers for community care. But they can get more cash if they don't file with VA and go straight after the vet.

[@myobmyob2215]

I prepaid for my VA healthcare by serving my country and destroying my body and mind doing so. Some gave their life. The VA has already been paid, they have to indefinitely treat and attend veterans as contracted in the agreement. There should be no other financials involved, just medical treatment

[@pamwaldron3504]

6 minutes in and I suspect the hospital owns the debt collection company. Either that, or they are tied together some how... maybe relatives work in both companies, etc.

[@ValerieVitality]

So glad you informed us on UChealth, their tax status should be changed. I hope someone starts the ball rolling on this immediately.

[@1209Misty]

Damn, professionals are Hella professional scammers. A new form of cartel, an American version. 👀

[@timwaddell9450]

Yea here in our state a hospital switched to for profit and got very aggressive. Well the stae attorney general put the smack down when they found out most of them where false. To save them selves the hospital went back to not for profit or it was getting ready to be shut down and lose its business and other licenses.

[@mhunt7843]

That Rep of the hospital does not represent the hospital well. She might represent them the way they want but it is not good. She is a cold hearted deceptive “witch.” Transparency is needed. I have worked in collections and for hospitals. I have heard too many times for it to be a patient issue of people going to collections without ever receiving a bill. I had a past experience myself where the hospital themself where the hospital admitted they messed up MULTIPLE times leading to my NOT getting a bill. They REPEATEDLY changed my address to an address I did not have.

[@harleyv1969]

Evil people

[@1romans122]

When a woman corruptly sues families and tries to hide behind a 3rd party, it’s worse. She should know better than to participate in this scheme. She should be pushing back rather than going along with plotting to ruin families.

[@kevinsmith4862]

If someone calls an ambulance for you, there is no obligation on your part to accept. If the EMTs touch you, you will be charged.

[@joywoodworth5615]

Ladies and Gentlemen I give you our For Profit healthcare system. Immoral

[@davidison3905]

Why cant hosptals list prices? They make stuff up as they go and we the people let them continue this billing process.

[@sharonhines3476]

This is nationwide. I live in Georgia, and many of the hospital chains have been granted non-profit status by the state and counties they are in. It's 100% a tax dodge. It's easy to be non-profit if you use all the revenues paying investors and the hospital executives. See, we used all the money, no profit to see here. The plutocrats and oligarchs have fixed the system. Someday, maybe someone with power will take the "promote the general welfare" in the preamble to the constitution to heart. I'm not holding my breath, though.

[@dortchem]

UC Health is the absolute worst.

[@imlistening1137]

I thought every hospital has to do a certain amount of charity work- besides, it’s a tax write off. And that hospital spokesperson? Wow…

[@bigdougscommentary5719]

That chief legal officer is the reason there is the C word. Lawyers wonder WHERE their lousy reputation come from.

[@christyh3208]

They are hiring companies to scour their records and looking for discrepancies, the same thing happened to me at a dental office in Michigan. I paid my bill but they didn’t properly document the payment and years later served me with court papers.

[@GovilGirl]

Awesome legislature and awesome investigation team!

[@lutzfilor8253]

Hospitals are predatory.

[@mr.t1941]

follow the money! Who owns the debt collector service and do they have a connection to the Hospitol bosses?????

[@michaelhollingshead972]

Lawyers are paid to solve problems. Sometimes you solve those problems by lying. This statement is not intended to imply that any lawyer featured in this video is lying.

[@user-qb8qm4mp5n]

Uchealth representative is a professional liar.

[@carolinegarza8285]

Easy fix. Don't show an ID when going to emergency room. Become anonymous, don't give your primary care information, address, nothing that identifies a patient. Tell the ER you have no insurance even if you do. They can't collect any money, and still have the obligation to treat you. Give them a taste of their own medicine

[@k.chriscaldwell4141]

_”No habla ingles.”_

[@ruby319able]

We all should be looking into our local non profit hospital and see what is going on

[@1luckyarmywife461]

Commenting for the algorithm

[@deborahwhit118]

SHAME DOUBLE SHAME UC HEALTH ! 🤨💩🤮👹

[@scottfranson4215]

Please follow though. With the Outcome for this. It’s Mind boggling. What do disabled Do who can thy go too for HELP.

[@rog3129]

She’s uses the word ‘honestly’.. red flag… they are hiding. Gaslighting..

[@karentrimmer]

I have received 2 different invoice from a credit agency for the exact same hospital, medical procedure, and date with 2 different amounts owed and to different addresses to send my remittance. They showed up 6 months to a year after the service date. I had never received a bill from the hospital. Both bills were not on official letterhead, just printed on a copier. When I called the phone number on the letter I was told it was a valid debt but they couldn't give me any other information. I made 3 copies of both invoices, sent a copy of each, to both addresses, included a letter explaining the situation and printed CC with my lawyer's name on the bottom. I never heard from them again.

[@zeroregrets5901]

they sue you and you cant talk to a judge or defend yourself? get lost, you have no obligation if you havent had interaction with them, owner of the debt? need to check that debt company. how many people have paid cause the insurance company wouldnt pay cause of the wrong coding then change the code to the correct one and get insurance money? demand an itemized bill and if one thing is wrong dispute it i've been through all this garbage.

[@lovealllife748]

Go after any doctors that have unpaid student loans....keep the hospital busy with something else

[@philipargo]

All you need to know is seen evidently @5:12.

[@ruby319able]

Of course the court favor uchealth

[@stephaniehowe0973]

How you changed it, to try to make you look better. We can try? BS they have records of that

[@ruby319able]

Pa needs reporters like this

[@feliciagaffney1998]

What I learned is, the spokesperson tells the media one thing... but they don't bother to tell anyone answering phones what that "policy" is. Seems quite fishy and disgusting to me.

[@Heavilymoderated]

Every time I see the UCHealth logo, I see the word CHEAT.

[@vivalaleta]

We demand a national healthcare system!

[@philipargo]

That will be a bigger failure than what we currently have. We could have pulled it off 100 years ago, not now. We're too fat, stupid, and entitled.

[@unbreakable7633]

We need health insurance reform most of all. A nationalized system would not be any better but making health insurance more affordable, more general, and more responsive would go a long way to helping people than socialized medicine, which is just medical care done like the Post Office.

[@jomac8101]

No

[@vivalaleta]

@@jomac8101 Why not?

[@vivalaleta]

@@unbreakable7633 A national healthcare system wouldn't be better? What do you have to back that claim?

[@HermitLady]

Abrupt ending. What happened?

[@GO-xs8pj]

We need universal healthcare in America like every other developed country in the world.

[@Jess1Dude]

Used to be called UC Healthcare. When they changed it, staff joked it was because UC doesn't care! Sad but true.

[@themeg1540]

Corewell Health in Michigan uses UCB (United Collection Bureau) instead of themselves.

[@mymobilebuddy4392]

I am getting sued by a debt collector. The plaintiff should be synchrony bank/ Sam's club

[@angelsmith5802]

ALWAYS get an itemized bill. Years ago one of my mom's female co-worker's got billed for a PAP smear- for her SON.