#521 - Leigh Burchell, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs at Altera Digital Health
Slice of Healthcare Team
09/24/2025
Guest
Episode details
Join us on the latest episode, hosted by Jared S. Taylor!
Our Guest: Leigh Burchell, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs at Altera Digital Health.
What you’ll get out of this episode:
- Policy Veteran Insight: Leigh Burchell shares her experience navigating U.S. health IT policy since 2008, from the Obama era to today.
- Federal vs. State Chaos: Fragmented state-level regulations complicate compliance for health tech companies like Altera.
- Shift Toward Voluntary Action: CMS is leading current health IT policy with a lighter regulatory touch, favoring pledges over mandates.
- User-Centered Innovation Needed: Overregulation often ignores the actual needs of clinicians and patients using health IT.
- Hope for Standards-Based Progress: Burchell urges for thoughtful federal frameworks to replace inconsistent state initiatives.
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Health IT’s Policy Evolution: A View from the Front Lines
Leigh Burchell, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs at Altera Digital Health, brings over a decade of experience to the health IT policy landscape. From establishing a government affairs function at the dawn of the Obama administration to navigating today's regulatory complexities, Burchell has witnessed the sector’s shift from minimal oversight to a web of federal and state directives.
She reflects on the early days when ONC’s presence was nominal and policy discussions were sparse. Today, she contends with a flood of updates not only from federal agencies like CMS, FDA, and Homeland Security, but also from increasingly active state governments.
“ “Lots and lots of people have a lot to say from a policy perspective about health IT… It can be challenging, but it certainly makes my life interesting.” ”
The Real Cost of Regulatory Patchwork
Burchell’s top concern? The surge of conflicting state-level initiatives on critical topics like AI, consent management, and interoperability. While well-intentioned, these fragmented efforts create a compliance nightmare.
“ “I really wish the states would chill out on their individual approaches… If there were effective things coming out of DC, the states wouldn't feel like they have to take action.” ”
Her prescription: strong, clear federal frameworks that provide guardrails without stifling innovation.
A New Era: From Enforcement to Encouragement
While there's been much talk of health IT deregulation, Burchell says the reality is more nuanced. Federal agencies are shifting tactics—especially CMS—opting to lead through collaboration and voluntary pledges rather than strict rules.
“ “We’ve signed pledges before. We all want this to get better… But we need some level of government work continuing.” ”
This trend highlights a strategic pivot: encouraging industry-wide standards without mandating every step, leaving space for innovation while still aligning efforts.
Certification vs. Real-World Use
One of Burchell’s sharpest critiques is how certification requirements often diverge from what clinicians actually need. The gap between policymaker priorities and user experience leads to inefficient workflows and mounting frustrations.
“ “Policymakers sometimes can err on the side of… sharing everything very broadly. But the person actually implementing it gets stuck in the middle.” ”
She calls for a return to focusing on users—ensuring that technology supports care delivery without burdening providers.
Final Thought: Keep the Patient at the Center
Ultimately, Burchell stresses the importance of remembering who this work serves: the patient. Every policy decision, every tech rollout, should circle back to improving the patient experience through better, more intuitive tools for providers.
“ “We have to keep the user at the center… The more we can help our clients, the more they can provide fantastic care to patients. That’s what we all want.” ”
