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| The Apex Building, headquarters of the Federal Trade Commission, on Constitution Avenue and 7th Streets in Washington, D.C.j |
FTC Investigates Epic Systems Over Health Data Access
WASHINGTON — August 14, 2026
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating Epic Systems over how the healthcare technology company gives or restricts access to medical data, according to two people familiar with the matter. The inquiry adds to growing scrutiny of Epic’s role in managing electronic health records used by healthcare providers across the United States.
The FTC has sent investigative demands to other companies in the health technology sector seeking information about Epic’s data-access practices, the sources said. The investigation is examining how Epic decides when outside companies can access information held through its systems.
Epic operates MyChart, a widely used patient portal, as well as electronic health record systems used by hospitals and clinics. The company says healthcare providers using its products collectively treat more than 280 million people in the United States.
Epic also operates a research platform that allows participating health systems to use information from its databases for research. According to the company, the platform includes data involving about 310 million patients.
The investigation comes as Epic faces separate legal challenges over its control of healthcare data. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the company in December, accusing Epic of restricting competitors’ access to data and using fees and other conditions to discourage healthcare providers from working with rival services.
Epic has rejected those allegations. The company says its systems can exchange information with outside platforms and argues that healthcare providers, rather than Epic, control access to patients’ medical records.
An Epic spokesperson said the company supports interoperability, meaning its systems can work with other healthcare technology platforms, and denied engaging in anticompetitive conduct. The FTC declined to comment on the investigation.
Epic is a privately held company whose software is used by hospitals and clinics to manage patient records. Its large role in the U.S. healthcare system means decisions about access to information can affect healthcare providers, technology companies and other businesses that depend on medical data.
The company is also facing a separate lawsuit from Particle Health, a competitor that provides platforms used by insurers to review and manage large volumes of medical records. Particle has accused Epic of creating barriers that make it harder for potential customers to use its services.
Epic has called Particle’s lawsuit baseless. It has also accused Particle of obtaining confidential patient medical records under false pretenses, a claim Particle has denied.
The FTC inquiry could increase pressure on Epic as regulators and competitors examine whether its position in the electronic health-record market gives it excessive control over access to medical information. The investigation is ongoing, and no finding of wrongdoing has been announced.
