Particle Well being, a platform for healthcare knowledge integration, filed a federal lawsuit towards Epic Programs Company on Monday. The lawsuit acknowledged that Epic has used its place to worm its method into the core of the U.S. healthcare system and eradicate competitors.
The lawsuit declared that over three-quarters of the U.S. inhabitants have digital well being information (EHR) inside an Epic database. “Epic is now trying to make use of its energy over EHRs to broaden its dominance into the fledgling marketplace for payer platforms,” the lawsuit acknowledged.
The Particle Well being staff accused Epic in a submit on its web site that the EHR firm “used a multi-tentacled method to attempt to squash Particle.” “Over the previous six months, it has lower off entry to knowledge for Particle’s prospects, lobbed now-discredited complaints, and overwhelmed Particle’s assist operations by stoking baseless safety considerations.”
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP filed the antitrust swimsuit. The swimsuit seeks an adjudication that Epic has violated the Sherman Act and seeks financial damages in addition to injunctive aid, insisting Epic stop its anticompetitive practices.
“Over the previous yr, Epic has not solely engaged in anticompetitive conduct however has purposefully blocked the alternate of affected person info. Docs want the total medical information of their sufferers, and this lawsuit represents greater than only a enterprise dispute. It is about medical ethics and defending sufferers’ rights to their well being knowledge,” Jason Prestinario, CEO of Particle Well being, wrote in a LinkedIn submit.
In a press release to Wisconsin Public Radio, an Epic spokesperson known as Particle Well being’s claims baseless and accused Particle of violating healthcare privateness legal guidelines. “Epic’s software program is open and interoperable, permitting healthcare organizations to simply share knowledge below HIPAA and all related rules,” the spokesperson stated. “Epic will proceed to guard affected person privateness and vigorously defend itself towards Particle’s meritless claims.”