News 7/14/25
Top News
Online weight-loss prescription delivery company NextMed will pay $150,000 to settle FTC charges that it lured consumers in with fake testimonials created by its own employees, used before-and-after photos of people who were not NextMed customers, published unsubstantiated weight-loss claims, and used carrot-or-stick tactics to influence customer reviews.
The company also failed to adequately explain the terms of its membership program and costs, obtain consent to charge consumers, and process cancellation and refund requests in a timely manner.
FTC will use the $150,000 to repay NextMed customers.
Sponsored Events and Resources
July 22 (Tuesday) 1 ET. “Innovating the Consumer Experience Beyond the EMR with Open Standards.” Sponsor: Praia Health. Presenters: Ryan Howells, principal, Leavitt Partners and program manager, The CARIN Alliance; David LaBine, VP of software engineering, Providence Digital Innovation Group; Robin Monks, CTO, Praia Health; Kristen Valdes, CEO, b.well. As healthcare faces rising consumer expectations and tighter regulations, the high cost of maintaining fragmented, proprietary systems is no longer sustainable. While patient data access has improved, the lack of open standards continues to hinder innovation, drive up integration costs, and limit the potential of digital health beyond the EHR. This webinar will discuss how open standards like OIDC, HL7 FHIR, and open technology requirements are essential for reducing integration burdens, accelerating development, and lowering maintenance costs. Panelists will describe how every closed integration represents a lost opportunity and will offer practical strategies for leveraging open technology as a competitive advantage that improves efficiency, ensures compliance, and strengthens patient trust.
Contact Lorre to have your resource listed.
Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock
Gheorg, an app developed to help children manage stress and anxiety, announces an undisclosed amount of funding from the John H. Scully and Regina K. Foundation.
People
Apree Health promotes Marla McLaughlin, MD to chief medical officer.
Nuvem names Ryan Doyle (Omnicell) chief growth officer, Dennis Wright (Omnicell) chief marketing officer, Brenda Barry (Omnicell) chief customer officer, and Vaughn Kinosian (Omnicell) SVP of enterprise pharmacy.
Announcements and Implementations
Missouri’s St. Louis County Health Department implements Epic through a partnership with SSM Health.
Research and Innovation
Independent physician practices are feeling pressured to seek out support in order to survive, whether that be through private equity, consolidation, or becoming affiliated with local health systems, according to a Black Book Research survey of 496 practices. Seventy percent anticipate losing their autonomy within the next 18 months if they don’t make major operational and/or financial changes. Top efforts to maintain independence have included:
- Signing new value-based care contracts with payers
- Outsourcing administrative and RCM operations, and
- Joining IPAs, MSOs, and ACOs.
Other
Jonathan Decker, DO faces decades of jail time and up to a $1 million fine for prescribing 2 million pills’ worth of controlled substances without properly examining patients, if at all; and altering patient records to legitimize prescriptions. Decker conducted his operation, which netted him $1 million, working for Done Global, whose founder and CEO and clinical president were charged last summer with similar crimes. The company continues to operate in China.
Sponsor Updates
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