The inquiry centers on whether Epic, which operates the ubiquitous MyChart patient portal, has leveraged its market dominance to stifle competition. According to sources familiar with the matter, the FTC has issued investigative demands to various players within the health technology sector to determine if the company unfairly controls the flow of information between providers.
FTC launches antitrust probe into health record giant Epic Systems
The Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation into Epic Systems, the healthcare database titan that manages medical records for over 280 million Americans. Regulators are currently scrutinizing the Wisconsin-based firm's practices regarding how it grants or restricts access to sensitive patient data across its widespread electronic record systems.
This federal scrutiny arrives as the privately held company already navigates legal challenges from competitors and state authorities. Both Particle Health and the state of Texas have filed lawsuits accusing Epic of intentionally blocking rivals from its ecosystem. In response to these allegations, the company maintains that its systems are interoperable and emphasizes that its healthcare provider clients, rather than the software firm itself, retain ultimate authority over who accesses specific patient records.
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