February 22, 2024 at 07:51AM
Change Healthcare, a US healthcare technology giant, suffered a cyberattack causing widespread network disruptions. The company announced the incident, reporting connectivity issues and indicating over 100 applications across various healthcare sectors as affected. It was later disclosed that the disruption was due to an outside threat and that the company had disconnected its systems to contain the incident. The disruption caused a significant impact on the healthcare system, affecting prescription processing at pharmacies. The company’s parent organization, UnitedHealth Group, was contacted for comment.
From the meeting notes, it is clear that Change Healthcare, a US healthcare technology giant, fell victim to a cyberattack that led to widespread network disruptions. The incident was first disclosed on February 21 at 02:15 EST when the company announced that some applications were unavailable. Change Healthcare then reported experiencing enterprise-wide connectivity issues, affecting over 100 applications across various healthcare services.
The disruption, caused by an outside threat, resulted in the company disconnecting its systems to contain the incident. While the specific type of cyberattack was not mentioned, it is suggested that ransomware might have been involved, given the typical response to such attacks.
The impact of this cyberattack has been significant, with disruptions affecting healthcare providers and patients across the US, leading to issues in processing prescriptions at pharmacies. SecurityWeek has reached out to UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of Change Healthcare, for a comment on the cyberattack.
The healthcare industry has been experiencing a notable increase in cyber incidents, as evidenced by recent breaches affecting healthcare payments processors and facilities. Additionally, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has identified security gaps in healthcare organizations’ security posture and issued security guidance.
This cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a major player in the healthcare technology sector, highlights the growing threat to the healthcare industry’s cybersecurity and the potential impact on patient care and operations.