Billionaire donates another $500K to defend Idahoans from medical debt collection agency

An Idaho businessman is ramping up his fight against an agency that collects medical debt, according to the Idaho Statesman.

Frank VanderSloot, and his wife, Belinda, announced Oct. 8 they would donate another $500,000 to defend eastern Idahoans from Idaho Falls, Idaho-based Medical Recovery Services, which has ties to state Rep. Bryan Zollinger, an Idaho Falls Republican, and Idaho Falls attorney Bryan Smith, the newspaper reported. That doubles the couple's original $500,000 donation to fight MRS through a legal defense fund Mr. VanderSloot created called Idaho Medical Debt.

The Statesman reported that Idaho Medical Debt aims to ensure full reimbursement to physicians and hospitals so that patients aren't on the hook for unreasonable fees associated with debt collectors. Mr. VanderSloot, founder and CEO of Melaleuca, a wellness retail company, said most of the fund will be used to defend patients, but money will also help fund lawsuits against MRS.

Becker's reached out to MRS and will post additional details as they are available.

Read the full Statesman report here.

 

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