Epic Questions Validity of Texas Antitrust Suit, Defends Data Sharing Practices
HealthcareIT News
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Contributed by: Kate Gamble
Summary
Epic Systems is contesting an antitrust lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, which claims the company engages in deceptive practices that restrict access to patient data. Epic argues that the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act does not pertain to its contractual dealings and maintains that its software allows healthcare organizations to control data access appropriately, including for parental oversight of children's records. The company defends itself with a detailed statement outlining its compliance record and commitment to interoperability, highlighting over 725 million monthly medical record exchanges, mostly with non-Epic systems. This legal challenge has significant implications for healthcare technology, particularly regarding data access and the responsibilities of EHR vendors in supporting patient rights and interoperability initiatives.