Attorney General's Office issues opinion approving Estes Park Health integration into UCHealth

Attorney General's Office issues opinion approving Estes Park Health integration into UCHealth

Sept. 22, 2025 (DENVER) - Attorney General Phil Weiser today issued an opinion approving a proposal that would make Estes Park Health hospital part of the UCHealth system, finding that the transaction will not result in a material change to Estes Park Health hospital's public purpose and that Coloradans will not experience a reduction in the availability and accessibility of health care services in the communities the hospital serves.

The Colorado Department of Law conducted a review as required under the Colorado Hospital Transfer Act, § 6-19-101, C.R.S, and under the attorney general's authority over charitable assets under state law. The attorney general's review was limited to determining that the merger will not result in a material change to the mission, vision and public purpose of Estes Park Health and that the hospital assets will remain in Colorado and under the attorney general's jurisdiction. Under the Act, if both conditions are met the transaction must proceed.

Based on documents and other information produced by the parties as well as public comments, the department determined that the merger met both conditions. The department also found no reason to believe there will be a reduction in the availability and accessibility of healthcare services in the communities served by the hospital, and the transaction can proceed without further review.

"The Colorado Hospital Transfer Act ensures that non-profit community assets remain in place for the benefit of communities," Attorney General Weiser stated. "In this review, we took that charge seriously, as we have in prior reviews, and analyzed the nature and impact of this transaction. Based on our review, we have no legal objection to the transaction proceeding."

Since it opened in 1975, Estes Park Health has been funded through property taxes collected by a special district governed by a locally elected five-member district board. According to the terms of the transaction, the district will continue to collect that tax from property owners and transfer the tax revenue to a new nonprofit entity called UCHealth Estes Park-a subsidiary of UCHealth-to support the hospital's operations. UCHealth Estes Park will have authority over the management and operations of Estes Park Health's assets, including the critical access hospital, a family medical clinic, and an urgent care center.

UCHealth's commitments under the transaction include assuming $10 million in long-term debt held by Estes Park Health and providing at least $20 million over 10 years for capital projects and routine maintenance. Additionally, UCHealth has committed to hiring most Estes Park Health employees who are in good standing.

A majority of members of the new UCHealth Estes Park Board of Directors will be from the Estes Park community, ensuring that the priorities of the local and surrounding communities will be top of mind when the board makes decisions related to the operations of the hospital. Because this transaction involves tax revenues, the voters in the special district would retain all their statutory rights under the Special District Act, § 32-1-101, C.R.S., and may exercise those rights at any time.

The Department of Law will continue to monitor the charitable purposes of the hospital to ensure they are maintained.

Read the attorney general's opinion approving the transaction (PDF).

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