State orders Co. Springs pain management clinic to close, claims owner had ‘never’ been licensed

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - KRDO13 Investigates has learned that a Colorado Springs pain management clinic, which abruptly closed last week and stranded dozens of residents without notice, has also been served a cease-and-desist letter to stop operations. Documents allege people at the clinic were not actually licensed to practice medicine.

Colorado's Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) served the cease-and-desist letter on Oct. 22 to Heather Copeland, the owner of Apex Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation clinic in eastern Colorado Springs.

The State's Medical Board claims in the letter that they had credible evidence showing Copeland, and those who work within the clinic, "acted without the required license to practice medicine", adding that the individuals at the clinic are not licensed, and have never been licensed, to practice medicine in the State of Colorado.

The order explains that Copeland's clinic offered and provided ketamine and platelet-rich plasma, which constitutes the practice of medicine, in the eyes of the law.

It continues to say that the clinic is registered as a Professional Limited Liability Company with the Colorado Secretary of State, but says that it is not owned by members who are licensed medical providers, adding another violation of state law.

The letter also explains that the clinic does not meet the requirements for a provider network, which requires ownership by a group of licensed healthcare providers, which is another violation.

"My four days without medication, I mean, I would equate that to torture. And I blame the owner for that." said Jon Simmons, a former law enforcement officer who has used Apex for over 3 years to treat pain from a hip replacement and his lower back.

Simmons explained that some frustrations began to rise not long before the clinic's abrupt closure on November 12. He says that a primary care doctor he had scheduled near the end of October was cancelled due to what he was told over the phone was, staff needing to be "re-certified", and as a result the clinic would be closed for a week.

That appointment was then rescheduled for one week later, which was ultimately when a massive snow storm hit southern Colorado, and cancelled the appointment yet again. It left him worried since he needed refills for not only his blood pressure medication and anti-anxiety medication, but also his daughter's depression medication, who also has primary care through the clinic.

"I was already really kind of irritated with them like something was going on. They seem very unprofessional. But yeah... after not from them, but I'm having to find out from other patients that they're just shut down. I mean, I feel betrayed. I mean, they've left me abandoned." said Simmons, after that appointment was re-scheduled for a third time, to November 18, which was six days after the clinic closed without warning.

Only a note was posted on the door at Apex Physical Medicine and Rehab on that Tuesday, Nov. 12. Many patients showed up to the location along North Union Boulevard, from as far as Pueblo and Castle Rock, to even La Junta, just to be turned away. Many patients told KRDO13 Investigates they had gotten reminder messages about their scheduled appointment, despite the building not being open.

Patients say they used Apex for a range of treatments: physical therapy, prescriptions, chiropractors, and even primary care doctors.

KRDO13 Investigates also uncovered that Apex Physical Medicine and Rehab, along with its owner, Heather Copeland, were named in a civil lawsuit in El Paso County Court as of Oct. 31, due to a failure to pay over $56,000 in rent over the course of three months at their previous property along South Carefree Circle.

Copeland will appear in court for a hearing for that lawsuit on Nov. 25.

Patients tell KRDO13 Investigates that the business uprooted from the South Carefree location, and moved into two new properties approximately three months ago, along North Union Boulevard and Jet Stream Drive. Both those buildings are now shuttered.

A real estate sign could be seen posted outside the North Union Boulevard property on Monday evening, showing that the space was available for rent or purchase.

KRDO13 Investigates attempted to reach Copeland by phone and by text on Monday afternoon, however we had not heard back as of 11:00 p.m. She had previously told KRDO13 Investigates over the phone on Nov. 14 that she 'didn't have anything to do' with the situation at hand, and that it would be handled in court.