Healthcare Innovation’s Top 10 Stories of 2019

As it often is, this past year was one of new developments, emerging trends, and compelling stories of innovation. All these moments, and many more that didn’t make the cut, made for an incredible year of reporting, researching, interviewing and writing. With that, here are the top 10 read stories from 2019, as dictated by you, our readers.

Massive Rule Drops at HIMSS19: CMS, ONC Propose New Regulations to Transform the Future of Interoperability and Patient Access

Through two immense proposed rules released on the first day of the HIMSS19 conference in Orlando, federal health officials pulled an array of levers that fall under the core aim to improve interoperability and patient access to data. The two proposed rules—one from CMS and one from ONC are separate, but at the same aligned as the two agencies within HHS look to further advance the nation’s healthcare interoperability progress.

Apple Buying Epic Would Sure Be “Epic,” But is it Realistic?

Health IT observers surely raised their eyebrows upon seeing comments in January from CNBC’s Jim Cramer on why Apple should acquire EHR giant Epic Systems.

Cramer, the host of Mad Money, dropped a bombshell: “Apple should acquire Epic Systems,” he said. “Not only would this deal be good for the company, I think it’s exactly what Apple’s stock needs to get its mojo back.” After reading Cramer’s remarks, Managing Editor Rajiv Leventhal reached out to a few industry sources who spoke about the possibility—or lack thereof—that this acquisition could actually happen.