News 12/24/25

Top News

ASTP/ONC releases HTI-5, a proposed rule that streamlines its Health IT Certification Program, updates information blocking regulations, and establishes a foundation of FHIR-based APIs to support AI-enabled interoperability.

HTI-5 would remove 34 of the 60 certification criteria and revise seven to reduce developer cost.

The proposal would also eliminate a Biden administration requirement that health tech vendors provide “model cards” that explain how their AI models work and how they should be used, similar to food nutrition labels.

Reader Comments

From Lippy: “Re: Donors Choose. Remind me again how to donate.” I will first explain that I do not strong-arm readers into donating to Donors Choose through me. However, it is one of few organizations that I trust and whose mission I believe in. Donating as described below allows me to choose projects, apply matching funds from third parties and my Anonymous Vendor Executive, and then list the projects that were funded (a cranky reader once accused me of “virtue signaling” by listing the projects here, but it’s fun to celebrate them collectively). The same process works for company donations. Instructions:

1. Purchase a Donors Choose gift card in the amount you’d like to donate.
2. Choose the option to send the gift card by the email to mr_histalk@histalk.com (that’s my Donors Choose account).
3. Print your own Donors Choose receipt for tax purposes.
4. I’ll pool the money, apply the matching funds, and publicly report here the projects that I funded.

A generous donation from long-time HIStalk supporters Ben and Michelle at ST Advisors, boosted by matching funds, fully funded these Donors Choose teacher grant requests:

• Headphones for Ms. C’s middle school class in Houston, TX.
• Headphones for the technology classes of Ms. S’s middle school science academy class in Austintown. OH.
• A laptop extended for Ms. A’s elementary school class in Houston, TX.
• STEM computer lab supplies for Ms. B’s middle school class in Port Saint Lucie, FL.
• A rolling white board for Ms. B’s middle school class in Newark, DE.
• Math and science activity stations for Ms. D’s middle school class in Aston, PA.
• Science lab supplies and materials for Mr. B’s middle school class in Yuma, AZ.
• STEM lab supplies for Ms. K’s elementary school class in Knightdale, NC.
• A document camera for Ms. D’s elementary school class in Randolph, MA.
• Magnets and microscopes for Ms. W’s elementary school class in Oilton, OK.
• Chemistry lab supplies for Mr. S’s high school class in Greenwood, DE.
• Classroom library shelves for Ms. T’s high school early college high school class in Louisburg, NC.

Sponsored Events and Resources

None scheduled soon. Contact Lorre to have your resource listed.

Acquisitions, Funding, Business, and Stock

Neurable raises a $35 million Series A round to accelerate commercialization of its brain-computer interface technology that allows wearables to track mental fatigue, cognitive recovery, and focus state detection. The company says that an immediate application will be to integrate brain insights into electronic gaming.

Sales

• Saint Peter’s Healthcare System (NJ), whose planned merger with Atlantic Health was cancelled in October 2025, will implement Epic.

Government and Politics

The former CEO of Power Mobility Doctor Rx is sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay $452 million in restitution for running a telemarketing, telemedicine, and kickback scheme that defrauded Medicare and insurers of $1 billion. The company’s software platform connected DME suppliers and pharmacies with telemedicine companies that accepted kickbacks and bribes to issue fraudulent prescriptions. The company targeted Medicare beneficiaries who agreed to provide their personal information and accept the medically unnecessary medical equipment and supplies when contacted via offshore call centers and mass mailings.  

Contacts

Mr. H, Lorre, Jenn, Dr. Jayne.
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