Hartford, Connecticut – Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in urging United Health Care Inc. to take more proactive measures to protect healthcare providers, pharmacies, and patients affected by a recent cyber attack on their subsidiary, Change Healthcare.
The attack, orchestrated by the Russian cyber gang ALPHV/Blackcat on Feb. 1, paralyzed Change Healthcare’s computer platform for a week, impacting tens of thousands of healthcare providers and insurers nationwide. In Connecticut, the extent of the attack’s impact remains difficult to quantify. State insurance department data suggests that nearly 1.7 million individuals with HMO or Indemnity Health Insurance plans may have had their data compromised. Additionally, the outage would have affected the state’s numerous primary care physicians, physician’s assistants, healthcare facilities, and pharmacies reliant on Change Healthcare’s systems.
Pharmacies across the state and country experienced difficulties processing claims and accessing reimbursement for services. Patients faced delays or denials in obtaining essential prescription drugs and scheduling appointments with their healthcare providers. Change Healthcare, the nation’s largest healthcare clearinghouse, was acquired by United Health Group in 2022.
Attorney General Tong emphasized the catastrophic consequences of the cyberattack on healthcare providers, urging Change and UnitedHealth Group to take immediate, aggressive action to safeguard critical healthcare infrastructure and assist impacted providers. In a letter to United Health Group, the coalition of attorneys general called for enhanced financial assistance to all affected providers and pharmacies.
With United Health Group reporting increased revenues and acknowledging paying a ransom to the hackers, the company expects several months to fully resolve the problems. Day Kimball Healthcare and other smaller providers in Connecticut faced significant disruptions due to the cyber attack, prompting the need for quick solutions to mitigate financial losses.
Greg McKenna, chairman of a network of independent pharmacies, criticized the behavior of pharmacy benefit managers and insurance companies in handling the aftermath of the cyberattack. The impact on smaller healthcare providers and independent pharmacies underscores the urgent need for comprehensive support and swift resolution to the ongoing challenges posed by the attack.
United Health Group reiterated its focus on prioritizing patient access to care and offering financial assistance to providers in need. The company continues to encourage affected parties to seek support and resources to navigate the aftermath of the cyberattack.