Ransomware Attack Hits Change Healthcare, Patient Data Compromised

Ransomware Attack Hits Change Healthcare
Ransomware Attack Hits Change Healthcare. Credit | Alamy

United States: Hospitals, insurers, and other clients are beginning to get notifications from Change Healthcare about the possibility that patient data was compromised in a significant breach. Additionally, the business stated on Thursday that it anticipates starting to inform patients or persons in late July.

Details of the Breach

Change in Healthcare, a subsidiary of the healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group, provides technology to submit billions of Insurance claims annually. Unfortunately, in February, hackers got access to the systems and unleashed a ransomware attack that encrypted and froze large parts of them.

Impact on Healthcare Systems

Due to the attack’s impact on the nation’s payment and claims processing, doctor’s offices and healthcare systems were put under strain as their capacity to submit claims and get payment was compromised.

Potential Data Exposure

According to Change, the hack may have revealed names, residences, Social Security numbers, and health insurance information. The business is currently looking into this.

It announced on Thursday that after reviewing over 90% of the affected data, it found no evidence of the physicians’ complete medical histories or charts being removed.

Company Response and Security Measures

According to CEO Andrew Witty, United Health paid a $22 million bitcoin ransom following the hack. During testimony before Congress last month, Witty stated that all of the business’s essential processes, such as pharmaceutical processing and claims payment, were operating normally.

Conclusion:

 If customers are concerned that their data was compromised in the attack, the corporation will be paying two years of credit on identity theft protection.

The Science and Educational Media Group of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute assists the Associated Press Health and Science Department. All content is the exclusive responsibility of the AP as mentioned by the Associate Press.