Pharmacies across the United States are encountering significant challenges in delivering prescriptions to patients following a cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group. The breach, identified on Wednesday, compromised the system that processes prescriptions for insurance claims, affecting tens of thousands of pharmacies. UnitedHealth, in a regulatory filing, disclosed the cyberattack and noted ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact.
This attack has resulted in some pharmacies, including major hospital pharmacies like the Naval Hospital in Camp Pendleton, California, and Evans Army Community Hospital in Colorado, being unable to process prescription claims. Additionally, the attack has affected companies like GoodRx and numerous smaller pharmacies, indicating a broad and significant impact on the healthcare system.
Why it matters: The cyberattack on UnitedHealth’s Change Healthcare business underscores the growing threat of cyberattacks on critical healthcare infrastructure. The incident highlights the vulnerability of interconnected systems and the potential for significant disruption in essential healthcare services.
- UnitedHealth suggested that the cyberattack might have been conducted by a group sponsored by a foreign country, indicating the seriousness and potentially international scope of the security breach.
- Immediate action has been taken to isolate the impacted systems and is working closely with law enforcement to address the cyber threat. The company’s proactive measures aim to protect partners and patients while restoring the affected systems.
- The American Hospital Association has recommended medical facilities disconnect from UnitedHealth’s network until the issue is resolved, highlighting the potential for broader exposure to the cyber threat.
Pharmacies Nationwide Face Delays as Health-Care Tech Company Reports Cyberattack – Fox Business
