Change Healthcare, a leading U.S. healthcare technology provider has confirmed a cyberattack on its systems, causing widespread disruptions to healthcare services across the country.
In a statement released Wednesday, the company acknowledged experiencing a network interruption related to a cybersecurity issue.
This cyberattack on Change Healthcare highlights the growing threat posed by malicious actors targeting critical infrastructure in the healthcare sector.
Additionally, the Change Healthcare cyberattack has raised concerns about the vulnerability of healthcare organizations to cyber threats and highlights the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect patient data and ensure the continuity of healthcare services.
Cyberattack on Change Healthcare: Immediate Action Taken
The cyberattack on Change Healthcare, described as an “enterprise-wide connectivity issue,” has prompted the firm to take immediate action, disconnecting its systems to prevent further impact. The company’s security experts are actively working to address the matter, but the disruption is expected to persist at least through the day.
Change Healthcare is experiencing a network interruption related to a cyber security issue and our security experts are working to address the matter. The disruption is expected to last at least through the day. We will provide updates as more information becomes available,” reads the official statement.
While the specific nature of the cyberattack on Change Healthcare remains undisclosed, the Organization has assured that it is specific to its systems, and all other operations within the UnitedHealth Group, its parent company, remain operational.
“At this time, we believe the issue is specific to Change Healthcare and all other systems across UnitedHealth Group are operational,” the Company informed.
Nationwide Outage Affects Healthcare Organizations and Pharmacies
The Change Healthcare cyberattack, which began with disruptions to some applications on February 21, has escalated into a nationwide outage affecting various healthcare organizations and pharmacies. Local reports, such as those from the Huron Daily Tribune in Michigan, indicate that pharmacies are unable to process prescriptions through patients’ insurance due to the cyberattack on Change Healthcare.
Additionally, Scheurer Health, a healthcare provider in Michigan, confirmed on its Facebook page that it is unable to process prescriptions due to the “nationwide outage from the largest prescription processor in North America,” referring to Change Healthcare cyberattack.
The cyberattack on Change Healthcare comes amidst the backdrop of the 2022 merger between UnitedHealth Group, Optum, and Change Healthcare in a landmark $7.8 billion deal. This merger granted Optum, a healthcare services giant, broad access to patient records of millions of Americans.
Optum, which provides technology and data services to insurance companies and healthcare providers, is now grappling with the repercussions of the cyber incident affecting its subsidiary, Change Healthcare.
As the situation unfolds, The Cyber Express team has attempted to gather further information from officials but has yet to receive an official response. This developing story highlights the critical importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding healthcare systems and the need for swift action to mitigate the impact on patient care.
Stay tuned for updates as more information becomes available on this evolving Change Healthcare cyberattack affecting healthcare services nationwide.
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