FTC probes health records giant Epic Systems – Reuters
Epic Systems, a healthcare database company holding the medical records of hundreds of millions of Americans, is facing an antitrust investigation by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Reuters reports, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Epic operates MyChart and other electronic health record systems used by healthcare providers that collectively treat more than 280 million Americans. The Verona, Wisconsin-based company also runs a research platform that allows participating health systems to use data from 310 million patients.
The FTC has sent investigative demands to others in the health technology industry seeking information about how Epic grants or withholds data access, the sources said.
“We’re leaders in interoperability to support patient care, and we do not engage in anticompetitive behavior,” an Epic spokesperson said.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Epic in December, accusing it of shutting out potential rivals by restricting access to healthcare data through restrictions and fees. Epic denies the claims, saying its products are interoperable with outside systems and that healthcare providers, not Epic, control access to patient records.
Particle Health, which competes with Epic on platforms insurers use to review and store medical records at scale, has also sued Epic, accusing it of creating barriers for potential clients. Epic called the lawsuit baseless and accused Particle of obtaining confidential patient records under false pretenses. Particle has denied that allegation.
