UCHealth Faces Class Action Over Alleged Patient Data Sharing with Meta

A major health provider in Colorado, UCHealth, is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit filed by Larimer County resident Patrick Miller in U.S. District Court in Denver. The lawsuit alleges that UCHealth shared sensitive patient search data with Meta through a website tracking tool known as Meta’s Pixel.

The complaint states that UCHealth deployed this tracking tool on its 'Find a Doctor' feature and possibly its patient portal, capturing users' searches for medical conditions and symptoms along with identifying details. This information was reportedly used to build user profiles for marketing and advertising purposes, raising serious concerns about privacy violations.

The lawsuit argues that UCHealth's actions contravene HIPAA regulations, which prohibit hospitals from disclosing identifiable private health information to third parties without patient consent. It asserts that UCHealth did not inform patients about the possibility of their information being sent to Meta, stating, 'The purpose and result of defendant’s use of the tracking Pixel was marketing and profits.'

In response, UCHealth has stated that it prioritizes patient privacy and plans to defend itself against the claims if the case proceeds. The health provider expressed disagreement with the plaintiffs' arguments, emphasizing its commitment to protecting patient information.

This lawsuit is part of a broader trend, as similar cases against other health systems have resulted in significant settlements, including $1.8 million by Atrium Health and $3.7 million by Duke University Health System. Notably, Meta is not named as a defendant in this lawsuit.