UnitedHealth Group has announced plans to restore services for its Change Healthcare unit by mid-March following a significant cyberattack. The breach, attributed to the “Blackcat” ransomware group on February 21, has severely disrupted medical claims and payment processing across the U.S., impacting healthcare providers’ ability to file claims and verify insurance coverage.
UnitedHealth’s comprehensive recovery plan includes the restoration of its electronic pharmacy operations, payment platform, and medical claims network, aiming to mitigate the hack’s impact on the healthcare system and ensure continuity of care and financial stability for healthcare providers.
Why it matters: The cyberattack on Change Healthcare highlights the critical vulnerabilities within the U.S. healthcare infrastructure, emphasizing the need for strong cybersecurity measures and swift recovery protocols. The disruption affects not only the operational aspects of healthcare delivery but also the financial well-being of providers. UnitedHealth’s response, including the restoration of services and the implementation of financial assistance programs, serves as a crucial step in addressing the immediate challenges and fostering resilience against future cyber threats.
- The company has already restored pharmacy electronic prescribing capabilities and is offering temporary funding assistance to providers affected by the disruption, ensuring that healthcare delivery can continue with minimal interruption.
- Additional measures include the temporary suspension of prior authorizations for certain services and the extension of funding programs to providers who have exhausted other relief options.
- The U.S. government has intervened by instructing Medicare contractors to offer flexible payment terms, a move aimed at alleviating some of the financial pressures faced by healthcare providers in the wake of the cyberattack. This governmental response, however, has been deemed insufficient by major healthcare associations.
UnitedHealth to restore hacked medical claims and payment services mid-March – Reuters
