Latest news with #EpicEHR
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dell Medical School Taps Rackspace for Industry-Disrupting Cloud Strategy: Building an Academic Medical Center Without Traditional Data Centers
Austin medical school becomes first to go fully cloud-native with Rackspace's managed services, transforming healthcare IT infrastructure model Dell Medical School SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rackspace Technology® (NASDAQ: RXT), a leading end-to-end hybrid cloud and AI solutions company, today announced it has partnered with Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin (Dell Med) as a strategic IT infrastructure provider, hosting and managing healthcare related data center needs, including managing its Epic® Electronic Health Record (EHR) and adjacent workloads. The strategic partnership will be part of the transformative journey to establish Dell Med as the anchor of a world-class academic medical center serving Central Texas and beyond. As part of its digital transformation, Dell Med selected Rackspace as a strategic partner to deliver a fully managed service model for the institution's hosted data center and Epic deployment. This partnership lays the foundation for Epic to serve as the medical center's comprehensive EHR platform across all future clinics and hospitals. "Partnering with Rackspace for our hosted data center needs is crucial to our continued success, and the Epic deployment will be one of the first big steps in our joint journey forward," said Michael Ryan, CIO and Chief Administrative Officer at Dell Med. "The Rackspace team will not only provide primary hosting for our Epic deployment and other application workloads but also a fully managed service model that ensures a seamless transition and operational excellence." The partnership highlights a joint commitment to pursuing transformative initiatives that enhance healthcare service delivery, medical education and research. Leveraging Rackspace's infrastructure and expertise in Epic deployments, Dell Med aims to revolutionize healthcare access and delivery, significantly advancing patient care standards. "Transformative solutions like ours can significantly improve operational efficiencies, and we are proud to work alongside such a prestigious organization," said Harjott Atrii, Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer for Private Cloud, Rackspace Technology. "We recognize the importance of being a trusted partner in healthcare technology, and our experience in delivering critical capabilities positions us to effectively support Dell Med's mission, demonstrating how advanced cloud solutions can redefine Healthcare IT." Future PlansAs part of its long-term digital strategy, Dell Med plans to build a new academic medical center without a traditional physical data center. Rackspace will host and manage critical components of the system's digital infrastructure, including Epic and other clinical workloads, through secure, compliant cloud services designed with redundancy to support patient safety, regulatory standards and system resilience. About Rackspace Technology Rackspace Technology is a leading end-to-end hybrid cloud and AI solutions company. We can design, build, and operate our customers' cloud environments across all major technology platforms, irrespective of technology stack or deployment model. We partner with our customers at every stage of their cloud journey, enabling them to modernize applications, build new products, and adopt innovative technologies. Media Contact: Cheryl Amerinepublicrelations@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NESA Becomes First Inpatient Virtual Care Platform Officially Listed in Epic Toolbox
MIAMI, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NESA, a leader in AI-enabled virtual care solutions, today announced that its flagship product, the NESA Virtual Care Platform™, is the first Inpatient Virtual Care solution to receive Epic's Toolbox designation. This achievement indicates NESA's Virtual Care Platform has been rigorously tested and validated by Epic to ensure it meets Inpatient integration and functionality standards. The Toolbox designation further validates NESA's unique ability to deliver high-quality, scalable virtual care through an intuitive, fully embedded user experience. NESA empowers healthcare organizations to enhance care delivery by enabling virtual care capabilities where care teams already work—directly within the Epic EHR. With support for unlimited workflows for patients of all ages, the platform enhances clinician visibility, streamlines care coordination, and improves the overall patient experience. NESA is already deployed across North America and Europe and continues to expand globally. "This journey started in 2020 when NESA first started working with Epic. Through our close collaboration, NESA is fulfilling our commitment to meet clinicians where they are," said Neil Salem, CEO of NESA. "We're proud to help healthcare systems deliver better, more efficient, effective, and connected care for both patients and providers within the Epic eco-system." Better is our Starting Point: Designed to Streamline Care Delivery Unlike traditional virtual care models that add complexity and disruption, NESA's platform offers a single-pane-of-glass interface that streamlines care interactions and keeps clinicians focused. The embedded experience makes it easier than ever to engage in virtual consults, monitor patients, and coordinate care—all within Epic. Key Features of the NESA Platform Include: Epic ECAL/CAL Integration: Meets the standards of Epic's Embedded Context-Aware Linking (ECAL) and Context-Aware Linking (CAL) for Virtual Care. Natively Embedded in Epic: Integrates seamlessly with Epic Hyperspace, MyChart, Rover, Canto, and Haiku, allowing one-click access to virtual care sessions. Epic MyChart Bedside TV Integration: Enables in-patient access to medical records and care team communication from the bedside. AI-Enabled, Edge-Based Virtual Care: Delivers two-way audio and video, edge-based ambient listening, computer vision, and actionable analytics. Multi-Participant Support: Supports up to six simultaneous virtual participants for care team, patients and family members. Enterprise-Grade Hardware: NDAA-compliant dual-camera systems for picture-in-picture views, up to 32x zoom, night vision, HD voice and ambient noise suppression. Flexible Deployments: Available in fixed in-room, wall-mounted, or mobile all-in-one units to suit varied clinical needs. NESA is exhibiting at the Epic Annual Users Group Meeting (UGM) in Verona, WI, August 18-21. Visit NESA's booth to learn more about innovations in virtual care. About NESA NESA augments care delivery with its AI-enabled Virtual Care platform. The solution is designed to meet care teams where they already work—directly within the EHR. Rather than adding another layer of complexity, the platform supports a wide range of workflows, network-wide, across inpatient and outpatient settings, for patients of all ages. NESA's platform offers a single pane of glass view that streamlines all care interactions, helping clinicians maintain focus, reduce friction, and spend more time with patients. It functions 24/7 and adapts to existing routines, minimizing disruption while improving continuity. Learn more at Epic, MyChart, Toolbox, Hyperspace, Rover, Canto, and Haiku are registered trademarks of Epic Systems Corporation. NESA is a trademark of NESA, Inc. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE NESA Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
23-07-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Clinical Data Intelligence Platform Evidently Boosts EHR Experience
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Evidently, the leader in Clinical Data Intelligence, today announced findings from KLAS Research which identified providers at University of Iowa Health Care (UIHC) experienced stronger satisfaction with existing EHR tools when using Evidently's AI summarization and documentation platform. The integration with Evidently resulted in a 31.7-point increase in Net EHR Experience Score among UIHC providers, bringing the score for those providers to 66.8. 'Evidently has helped us safely and accurately organize this information in a way that dramatically improves the time providers have to spend in the EHR," said Dr. Jim Blum, Chief Health Information Officer at University of Iowa Health Care (UIHC). 'Unfortunately, most providers and staff are used to drowning in patient data. There is so much—and much of it is found outside of our native EHR,' said Dr. Jim Blum, Chief Health Information Officer at UIHC. 'Evidently has helped us safely and accurately organize this information in a way that dramatically improves the time providers have to spend in the EHR, placing the right information directly in the EHR to help providers make better clinical decisions, and improve reimbursement on the back-end.' In a 2023 Arch Collaborative EHR Experience Survey, UIHC providers listed the large volume of fragmented external patient data as one of their most acute EHR pain points. Most of this crucial patient information wasn't integrated into the EHR and was difficult and time-consuming for providers to review on their own. To address this problem, UIHC partnered with Evidently, using its clinically trained, evidence-based AI platform to summarize and organize internal and external patient data to streamline chart review, enhance documentation quality and improve provider satisfaction. UIHC initiated an enterprise-wide rollout of the platform, accessible inside the organization's Epic EHR, in September 2024. On the first day of the rollout, thousands of UIHC users accessed the tool. By semantically indexing and summarizing thousands of clinical notes, Care Everywhere records, and scanned documents for each patient chart, Evidently gives clinicians the immense benefits of problem-oriented medical records without labor-intensive data entry requirements. More recently, 'Ask Evidently', a conversational chat AI which enables users to ask a patient chart questions in natural language, has been added to the suite of clinical data intelligence tools available at UIHC. In the ten months since UIHC deployed Evidently widely, the organization has found: 31.7-point increase in Net EHR Experience Score 24% increase in agreement that the EHR has the necessary external integrations 0.1 increase in CMI and resulting financial benefits from stronger reimbursement Evidently has also provided UIHC the ability to better use patient information for clinical research, improve billing and draft stronger denial appeal letters, citing specific codes and medical history. 'Patient records have everything an organization needs to both improve outcomes and strengthen financial health,' said Feng Niu, founder and CEO of Evidently. 'It's just a matter of serving providers and staff the information they need, without making them dig for it. Evidently is a light, but powerful deployment, only requiring about 15 analyst hours to go-live with UIHC. In some of the most friction-filled areas of healthcare, it equips health systems with powerful tools to deliver high-quality care.' About Evidently Evidently's AI platform empowers clinicians with the patient insights they need to raise the quality of care in every encounter. By organizing, tracing and summarizing the entire patient record, Evidently equips teams focused on care quality, revenue, value-based care, perioperative, and emergency medicine with the real-time insight that they need to elevate healthcare outcomes and improve revenue. Healthcare organizations across the United States use Evidently's compliant, evidence-based AI platform to exponentially reduce time spent in the EHR and uncover millions of dollars in unrealized reimbursement. For more information, visit
Business Upturn
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Global Electronic Health Record Market is Projected to Reach ~USD 54 Billion by 2032
By GlobeNewswire Published on June 11, 2025, 22:00 IST New York, USA, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global Electronic Health Record Market is Projected to Reach ~USD 54 Billion by 2032 | DelveInsight The electronic health records market is experiencing robust growth, primarily driven by the increasing incidence of chronic diseases that require ongoing monitoring, data management, and coordinated long-term care. This rising demand has led to a greater need for integrated healthcare systems capable of seamlessly sharing patient information across departments and care settings. In response, governments worldwide are introducing supportive policies, funding programs, and regulatory frameworks to boost EHR adoption and improve healthcare efficiency. At the same time, major industry players are ramping up innovation, launching advanced, user-friendly, and interoperable EHR solutions that leverage artificial intelligence and data analytics. DelveInsight's Electronic Health Record Market Insights report provides the current and forecast market analysis, individual leading electronic health record companies' market shares, challenges, electronic health record market drivers, barriers, trends, and key market electronic health record companies in the market. Key Takeaways from the Electronic Health Record Market Report As per DelveInsight estimates, North America is anticipated to dominate the global electronic health record market during the forecast period. In the product & services segment of the electronic health record market, the software category captured a significant revenue share in 2024. Notable electronic health record companies such as Epic Systems Corporation, Oracle, Veradigm LLC, Medical Information Technology, Inc., athenahealth, NXGN Management, LLC, eClinicalWorks, Greenway Health, LLC, Practice Fusion, Inc., Particle Health, Practice Fusion, Inc., American Well, Medisafe, GetWellNetwork, Inc., Personify Health, Luma Health Inc., CipherHealth Inc., Relatient, CureMD Healthcare, Oneview Healthcare, and several others are currently operating in the electronic health record market. and several others are currently operating in the electronic health record market. In April 2025, Wolters Kluwer Health announced an expanded integration with the EHR company Epic, enabling UpToDate Enterprise customers and their patients to access patient education content directly within the Epic EHR and MyChart patient portal. announced an expanded integration with the EHR company Epic, enabling UpToDate Enterprise customers and their patients to access patient education content directly within the Epic EHR and MyChart patient portal. In November 2024, Suki , a leader in AI technology for healthcare, announced partnerships with EHR providers MEDENT and Azalea Health. Both companies integrated Suki's AI engine, the Suki Platform, into their systems to enhance user experience and improve patient care. , a leader in AI technology for healthcare, announced partnerships with EHR providers MEDENT and Azalea Health. Both companies integrated Suki's AI engine, the Suki Platform, into their systems to enhance user experience and improve patient care. In May 2024, Athenahealth announced the launch of athenaOne for Women's Health and athenaOne for Urgent Care. To read more about how do electronic health records improve workflow processes, get a snapshot of the key highlights entailed in the Functions of Electronic Health Records Electronic Health Record Overview An electronic health record (EHR) is a digital version of a patient's paper chart and is designed to be accessed by authorized users across different healthcare settings. It contains comprehensive health information such as medical history, diagnoses, medications, immunization dates, allergies, lab results, and physician notes. Unlike traditional paper records, EHRs allow real-time, secure access to patient data, thereby improving coordination among healthcare providers, reducing errors, and facilitating more accurate diagnoses and treatment. EHR systems also support better patient engagement and healthcare analytics. Patients can access their own health records through secure portals, empowering them to participate in their care. Meanwhile, healthcare providers can use EHR data for population health management, tracking outcomes, and improving efficiency. Despite these benefits, EHR implementation can face challenges such as high costs, interoperability issues between systems, and data privacy concerns. Nonetheless, EHRs are central to modern healthcare infrastructure and play a crucial role in advancing quality, safety, and patient-centered care. Electronic Health Record Market Insights North America led the electronic health record market in 2024, holding the largest market share. This leadership is primarily due to the rising incidence of chronic illnesses, largely stemming from an aging population. The region is also witnessing increased adoption of telehealth services and a growing emphasis on patient-centric care, both of which are driving market expansion. Moreover, advancements in technology and robust governmental support for digital health initiatives are significantly contributing to the growth of the EHR market in North America. EHRs are essential in chronic disease management, enabling consistent, coordinated, and data-informed care. They help healthcare providers monitor patient conditions over time, track medication adherence, and detect health trends through real-time access to medical records, lab results, and treatment plans. Additionally, EHR systems support preventive care by issuing alerts for screenings, follow-up visits, and routine health checks, which helps reduce complications, hospital admissions, and emergency room visits, especially for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Leading companies in the region are also focusing on innovation to enhance their EHR offerings and strengthen their market presence. For instance, in May 2024, Athenahealth introduced athenaOne for Women's Health and athenaOne for Urgent Care, cloud-based, integrated solutions that combine EHR capabilities with practice management, revenue cycle tools, and patient engagement features. These tailored platforms aim to meet the unique needs of various medical specialties. To know more about why the North America electronic health record (EHR) market is leading, get a snapshot of the Electronic Health Record Development Electronic Health Records Market Dynamics The electronic health record market is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by the convergence of technological advancements, healthcare digitization mandates, and growing demand for data interoperability. Governments around the world, especially in developed economies, are investing in digital healthcare infrastructure, with policies aimed at improving healthcare efficiency and patient outcomes. For instance, initiatives like the U.S. HITECH Act and the European Union's digital health strategies have accelerated EHR adoption among providers. As a result, hospitals, clinics, and physician practices are increasingly moving toward integrated EHR systems that can facilitate seamless access to patient data across various touchpoints. A key dynamic shaping the EHR market is the growing need for interoperability and patient data portability. Historically, many EHR systems operated in silos, leading to fragmented patient records and care delays. Today, both regulators and healthcare providers are pushing for open APIs, FHIR standards, and cross-platform compatibility. This trend is fostering innovation among EHR vendors who now need to balance robust functionality with open architecture. Companies like Epic, Cerner (now part of Oracle), and athenahealth are continuously evolving their platforms to remain competitive in a market where connectivity and integration have become key differentiators. Cloud adoption is another significant driver, as cloud-based EHR systems offer scalability, lower upfront infrastructure costs, and easier access for remote care. The rise of telemedicine and virtual care, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has underscored the need for accessible, real-time patient information. This has led smaller practices and large healthcare systems alike to transition from on-premise to SaaS-based EHR models. However, this shift also raises concerns around data security and compliance, particularly with HIPAA in the U.S. and GDPR in the EU, compelling vendors to invest in advanced cybersecurity features. Despite these advancements, the EHR market continues to face challenges such as user dissatisfaction, high implementation costs, and workflow inefficiencies. Physicians often report that EHRs can be cumbersome, leading to increased administrative burdens. To counter this, there's growing interest in AI-driven tools and natural language processing (NLP) that can automate documentation, improve decision support, and enhance user experience. Vendors that prioritize user-centric design and clinical efficiency are likely to gain a competitive edge. Overall, the EHR market is expected to grow steadily, but its trajectory will depend on how well stakeholders—vendors, providers, regulators—collaborate to address longstanding issues of usability, standardization, and data security. As healthcare continues to evolve into a more data-driven, value-based model, EHR systems will remain central to enabling coordinated care, population health management, and patient engagement. Get a sneak peek of the benefits of using electronic health records @ Advantages and Disadvantages of Electronic Health Records Report Metrics Details Coverage Global Study Period 2022–2032 Electronic Health Records Market CAGR ~6% Electronic Health Records Market Size by 2032 USD 53.5 Billion Key Electronic Health Record Companies Epic Systems Corporation, Oracle, Veradigm LLC, Medical Information Technology, Inc., athenahealth, NXGN Management, LLC, eClinicalWorks, Greenway Health, LLC, Practice Fusion, Inc., Particle Health, Practice Fusion, Inc., American Well, Medisafe, GetWellNetwork, Inc., Personify Health, Luma Health Inc., CipherHealth Inc., Relatient, CureMD Healthcare, Oneview Healthcare, among others Electronic Health Records Market Assessment Electronic Health Records Market Segmentation Electronic Health Records Market Segmentation By Product and Services: Hardware, Software, and Services Electronic Health Records Market Segmentation By Deployment: On-premise, Cloud, and Hybrid Electronic Health Records Market Segmentation By Application: Clinical Decision Making, Administrative Support, Patient Management, and Others Electronic Health Records Market Segmentation By End Users: Hospitals & Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Others Electronic Health Records Market Segmentation By Geography : North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World Porter's Five Forces Analysis, Product Profiles, Case Studies, KOL's Views, Analyst's View Which MedTech key players in the electronic health records market are set to emerge as the trendsetter explore @ Electronic Health Record Companies Table of Contents 1 Electronic Health Record Market Report Introduction 2 Electronic Health Record Market Executive Summary 3 Competitive Landscape 4 Regulatory Analysis 5 Electronic Health Record Market Key Factors Analysis 6 Electronic Health Record Market Porter's Five Forces Analysis 7 Electronic Health Record Market Layout 8 Electronic Health Record Market Company and Product Profiles 9 KOL Views 10 Project Approach 11 About DelveInsight 12 Disclaimer & Contact Us Interested in knowing how does electronic health records improve patient care? 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These services are tailored to the specific needs of each client and are delivered through a combination of reports, dashboards, and interactive presentations, enabling clients to make informed decisions, mitigate risks, and identify opportunities for growth and expansion. Other Business Pharmaceutical Consulting Services Healthcare Conference Coverage Pipeline Assessment Healthcare Licensing Services Discover how a mid-pharma client gained a level of confidence in their soon-to-be partner for manufacturing their therapeutics by downloading our Due Diligence Case Study About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant, and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fresno hospital kickback scheme was fueled by wine, cigars and Vegas strip clubs
In the Spotlight is a Fresno Bee series that digs into the high-profile local issues that readers care most about. Story idea? Email tips@ One of the most brazen — and costliest — hospital kickback schemes involving the region's largest hospital group took place inside a nondescript, palm tree-lined medical plaza in north Fresno. That's where a healthcare technology company founded with money from Community Regional Medical Center built an exclusive wine and cigar lounge, complete with private humidor lockers for cigar storage, a state-of-the-art smoke ventilation system, and luxury wines and liquors valued at about $1 million. Only a select few executives and physicians had access to the office-turned-lounge near First Street and Alluvial Avenue, known as 'HQ2.' It was a place where doctors, healthcare executives and physician group leaders were generously rewarded for using the company's electronic health record system and fraudulently referring patients in violation of several federal laws, according to a 2019 unsealed federal whistleblower lawsuit. The alleged conspirators planned to build a grander 'ranch' luxury retreat using funds generated from the kickback scheme, according to the complaint, which was unsealed Wednesday. The scheme came to light only after a 2017 building fire at the medical plaza revealed a cache of a thousand bottles of wine,arousing suspicions from the whistleblower, an accountant, of improper spending. The U.S. Attorney's Office announced Wednesday that Community Health System and healthcare technology affiliate Physician Network Advantage Inc. (PNA) have agreed to pay $31 million to the federal government to settle allegations that it violated the False Claim Act. Community Health System (CHS), Fresno's largest healthcare group, owns downtown Fresno's Community Regional Medical Center and the Clovis Community Medical Center, as well as a health plan and physician network. Community Medical Centers (CMC) is the name of the group that includes the hospitals and clinics under the CHS umbrella. PNA is a health care technology business founded and funded by CMC to support Fresno-area physicians' adoption of the electronic health records platform used by Community, according to federal prosecutors. PNA's CEO Chris Roggenstein is a 'longtime friend' of former CHS CEO Craig Castro, according to the lawsuit. At the heart of the complaint is a scheme that PNA provided lavish benefits to doctors and physician group executives in exchange for enrolling in CMC's electronic health record technology known as 'Epic EHR.' The lawsuit also alleges physicians and medical groups who joined the network made fraudulent referrals to CMC facilities in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. The kickback scheme involves several major players in Fresno's medical system, from hospital executives to medical records companies to some of the largest physician groups in the Central Valley. Some of the 17 luxury gifts, trips and donations listed in the lawsuit included: A trip to Paris, France for Castro and his family totaling approximately $63,000. A private plane for Timothy Joslin, former CEO of CRMC, to go to Las Vegas. Strip clubs and meals for CMC executives and physicians during a Las Vegas medical conference in January 2016. A $9,400 trip to Spain for Scott Wells, president of Santé Health and Santé Foundation, as well as Joyce Fields-Keene CEO of Central California Faculty Medical Group, or CCFMG (now known as Inspire Health Medical Group). 'The whistleblower lawsuit makes claims regarding personal choices that don't reflect our high standards as a non-profit health system, or the values of our current leadership team and board. And a number of elements in the 2019 lawsuit reflect either inaccurate or incomplete information,' said Michelle Von Tersch, senior vice president and chief of staff for CHS. In a statement, PNA said it cooperated with the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Sacramento in its review of Community Health System's electronic medical records program that began nearly 15 years ago. 'The settlement brings this matter to a conclusion without any determination or admission of legal liability for PNA,' the statement said. Thirty-five doctors were known to have received payment from CHS, according to the settlement agreement. According to the complaint, CMC embarked on the seven-year, $75 million quality improvement initiative in or around 2010 to replace their business and clinical data system with new technology — the Epic EHR system. CHS Board Chair Roger Sturdevant said that, in 2009, the federal government directed the healthcare industry to transition to electronic health records, which CHS did to provide patients with a 'robust, consistent, and secure electronic health records system.' 'However, it is clear we needed stronger oversight measures to assure that both Community and our vendor partner maintained appropriate compliance at all times.' Sturdevant told The Bee in a statement. 'While we are confident that physician referrals were driven by Community Health System's position as a leading provider of hospital-based and specialty services, we recognize that even the appearance of inappropriate incentives must be addressed.' In 2010, Physician Network Alliance, Inc. was formed with the sole purpose and business function of expanding defendant CMC's Epic EHR network of Fresno area medical practices — and to shelter the illegal kickback payments and elaborate gifts, the lawsuit says. According to the complaint, as early as 2011 CMC and PNA started giving kickbacks to Fresno-area physicians in the form of cash, expensive wine, strip-clubs, trips with private planes, and free or heavily discounted access to the Epic EHR software. PNA would bring in physicians and doctors groups into the network, all of which were subject to approval by CMC. In or around 2014 and 2015, CMC and PNA changed their building model so that PNA could retain some of the money received from the physician group, licensing fees and other monthly fees for maintenance and support of the Epic EHR system. Defendant PNA was able to retain a cash surplus from the Epic EHR client fees, so PNA began to use the excess cash for extra gifts and travel for CMC executives and CMC network physicians, such as the European and Vegas trips. PNA allegedly provided jobs to family members of CMC executives at the request of CMC. The HQ2 cigar lounge was constructed sometime after 2014 with an estimated $1.1 million of CMC funds, the complaint said. Michael Terpening, the former controller for PNA, discovered the 'illegal activity' after a fire at PNA's headquarters in 2017, in which 40 to 50 boxes of wine — totaling 1,000 bottles — were found in a storage room. When Terpening approached his boss Roggenstein about the wine, he was told it was 'leftover from the holiday party.' Terpening and his attorney could not be reached for comment. Discovery of the wine surplus led Terpening to become suspicious of other large expenditures submitted as deductible 'business expenses' for PNA, the complaint said. But, according to the complaint, Roggenstein ignored Terpening's advice to cease the illegal activity, and instead 'redoubled his criminal efforts.' Roggenstein and CMC had plans to build out the 'HQ Ranch,' a luxury retreat for CMC executives and physician practices that would include a cigar and wine lounge 'large and grander in scale than HQ2,' a skeet shooting range and a small off-road vehicle course. 'Once he realized that neither Defendant Mr. Roggenstein, Defendant PNA, nor Defendant CMC had any intention of remedying the above conduct, and in an effort to quit the illegal conspiracy, Mr. Terpening resigned from his position as a Controller for Defendant PNA,' the complaint said. The lawsuit alleged the defendants violated three federal laws through its kickback scheme: the Anti-Kickback Statute, the False Claims Act and the Stark Law. The Anti-Kickback Statute makes it a crime to knowingly and willingly offer, pay, solicit or receive any remuneration to induce a person to refer to an individual for the furnishing of any item or service covered under federal healthcare program. Claims submitted knowingly and in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute constitute a 'false or fraudulent' claim under the False Claims Act, according to the lawsuit. The Stark Law prohibits a physician or medical provider from referring Medicare patients for certain services to an entity with which a physician's immediate family has a financial relationship. The 2019 complaint lists several defendants, including: Fresno Community Hospital and Medical Center; Physician Network Advantage, Inc.; Santé Health System; Santé Health Foundation; Berj Apkarian; Craig Castro; Central California Faculty Medical Group; Timothy Joslin; Michael Muruyama; Grant Nakamura; Patrick Rafferty; Christopher Roggenstein; and Michael Synn. On Tuesday, summons were issued to the defendants. In court filings, the U.S. The Attorney's Office said it chose not to intervene at this time given the settlement with defendants Santé Health System, Inc., Santé Health Foundation, Central California Faculty Medical Group, Grant Nakamura and Michael Synn. But it has left open the possibility that it may take action pending further investigation. A scheduling conference is set for Aug. 21 at 11:30 am in the Yosemite Federal Courthouse with Magistrate Judge Helena M. Barch-Kuchta.
