June 21, 2024 at 05:43PM
Change Healthcare has formally notified some pharmacy and hospital customers of a data breach by ransomware criminals in February. They are still identifying affected individuals and anticipate mailing letters to them in late July. The stolen information includes names, birth dates, phone numbers, and email addresses. The recovery process is slow, with costs nearing $1 billion.
Based on the meeting notes, it appears that Change Healthcare suffered a ransomware attack back in February, resulting in the theft of sensitive patient data. The types of information accessed include first and last names, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, and more. Change Healthcare is still working to identify affected individuals and plans to notify them by mail, starting in late July. The company has also disclosed that it has not yet seen full medical histories in the stolen data.
The attack has had significant consequences for Change Healthcare and the wider healthcare industry in the United States, including substantial financial costs and disruptions to patient care. Additionally, the threat of ransomware and cyberattacks in the healthcare sector remains a cause for concern, with recent incidents in the UK and the involvement of ransomware gang Qilin.
It is essential for Change Healthcare to continue their efforts in addressing the impact of the attack, ensuring affected individuals are notified, and strengthening their cybersecurity measures to prevent future incidents.