Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Health Records System Epic Launches Lawsuit Over Illegally Accessed Files
Stat: Epic Sues Health Information Network Over Nearly 300,000 Illegally Accessed Records
Epic Systems, the company behind the largest electronic health records system in medicine, is suing health information network Health Gorilla and several of Health Gorilla’s clients over improperly accessing nearly 300,000 patient records managed by Epic. (Trang, 1/13)
AP: Hospital And Nurses Fail To Negotiate During Second Day Of NYC Nursing Strike
Hospital officials and union leaders traded barbs Tuesday, but failed to return to the bargaining table on the second day of New York City’s biggest nursing strike in decades. The union accused one hospital, Mount Sinai, of illegally firing three nurses, though the medical center claimed the individuals had sabotaged emergency preparedness drills. Another hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, criticized what it described as the union’s “reckless demands” and “troubling proposals” in contract talks. (Marcelo and Frederick, 1/13)
Modern Healthcare: CommonSpirit Health Plans To Sell More Facilities
CommonSpirit Health plans to sell more facilities this year in an effort to boost the sprawling health system’s finances and expand its ambulatory network. It’s unclear whether it’s letting go of more hospitals. President and CEO Wright Lassiter told attendees at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference Tuesday that the Chicago-based system will announce its plans in the next quarter. (Kacik, 1/13)
The Wall Street Journal: Why Healthcare’s Stock-Market Winners And Losers Could Soon Trade Places
For the past few years, as Americans poured back into doctors’ offices and operating rooms, U.S. healthcare split into clear winners and losers. Hospitals and other providers—businesses that make money on volume—thrived. Insurers, which bear the risk of paying for that care, didn’t. (Wainer, 1/13)
On Medicare and Medicaid —
Modern Healthcare: CMS' New Medicare Pay Models Leave Providers With More Questions
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has thrown a lot of new payment models at providers and value-based care organizations since President Donald Trump returned to the White House a year ago. The agency’s Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation rolled out a slew of demonstrations in 2025, including a half a dozen in December alone. The healthcare sector is sorting through what it all adds up to as CMS strives to fulfill the agenda it announced last May. (Early, 1/13)
Stat: How Much Medicare Stands To Pay For FDA Breakthrough Devices
The Food and Drug Administration’s breakthrough device program continues to expand at a breakneck pace. Established to grease the wheels of regulatory conversation and submission for innovative devices that promise to help patients with debilitating disease, the FDA has stamped 1,176 products with the breakthrough label — and so far authorized 160 of them to enter the market. (Palmer, 1/14)
North Carolina Health News: NC Faces Tight Deadline, High Costs With Medicaid Requirement
North Carolina has less than a year to implement a federal rule requiring “able-bodied” Medicaid participants to prove they are working, volunteering or attending school for at least 80 hours a month. (Baxley, 1/14)
Modern Healthcare: Medicaid Cuts Create Opportunities For Cityblock Health, Fortuna
A growing sect of digital health companies see opportunity in helping providers navigate upcoming Medicaid funding cuts. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was signed into law last July includes more than $900 billion in federal funding cuts for Medicaid. There are also additional Medicaid reimbursement rate decreases happening in Idaho, North Carolina and elsewhere. These funding cuts are opening the door for digital health companies that work with Medicaid providers and health plans. (Famakinwa, 1/13)
