Epic Smear Campaign, Humana Loses $693 Million, & Ambient AI Scribe Market Is Exploding

Hey all,

I hope you’re all on the tail end of a great week. I love that there are accusations of Wikipedia slander in the EMR game. Enjoy the rundown!

Jacob Brody (Co-Founder & CEO, ZorroRX)

(Healthcare Finance News) Humana Reports $693M Q4 Loss but Posts $1.2B Profit for 2024

Despite a $693 million loss in Q4 2023 due to higher medical costs and rate adjustments in Medicare Advantage, Humana rebounded to report $1.2 billion in profits for 2024. The company attributed this turnaround to strategic cost controls, premium adjustments, and efforts to manage utilization more effectively. This highlights the ongoing financial volatility in the managed care sector as insurers navigate rising healthcare costs. Full Article

(Oracle Blog) Oracle Accuses Epic Systems of Wikipedia Smear Campaign Against Executive

Oracle EVP Ken Glueck alleges that Epic Systems, led by CEO Judy Faulkner, engaged in a covert effort to undermine Seema Verma, Oracle Health’s EVP, through anonymous Wikipedia edits aimed at discrediting her professional reputation. The blog details a series of negative edits traced to a public Wi-Fi network and later linked to individuals with ties to Epic, including former HHS Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan. Now we know what Epic was doing instead of building a less awful product.  Full Article

(Modern Healthcare) The Competitive Landscape of Ambient AI in Clinical Documentation

 Investor interest in AI-powered ambient clinical documentation is surging, with venture funding reaching $292 million in 2024, up from $87 million in 2023. Companies like Nuance/Microsoft, Abridge, and Ambience are leading the charge, embedding AI-powered documentation tools into electronic health records (EHRs) to streamline clinical workflows and reduce burnout. As competition intensifies, vendors are expanding capabilities beyond transcription to include coding, scheduling, and even billing assistance. Partnerships with major health systems and EHR providers like Epic, Oracle, and athenahealth are key differentiators in this evolving market. Full Article