Top 4 Essential Facts on Healthcare Cybersecurity Threats
TL/DR –
The cyberattack on Change Healthcare highlighted serious vulnerabilities in the U.S. healthcare system and highlighted the need for improved digital security. The ransomware attack had wide-reaching effects, causing providers to be unable to collect billions of dollars in payments, and many smaller hospitals and medical practices are still struggling to get paid. Healthcare has consistently been identified as the sector of the U.S. economy most susceptible to attacks, with experts emphasizing the inadequate protections in U.S. health systems and arguing that the entire sector is severely under-resourced when it comes to cybersecurity.
Urgent Need for Enhanced Digital Security in U.S. Health Care System
The recent cyberattack on Change Healthcare, part of UnitedHealth Group, highlights serious vulnerabilities in the U.S. health care system. This echo the urgent need for improved cybersecurity measures.
Change Healthcare, the nation’s largest clearinghouse, handles a third of all patient records. The attack had widespread implications, causing providers to be unable to collect billions of dollars in payments. Many smaller hospitals and medical offices are still struggling to get paid.
Information regarding the exact nature and scope of the attack is limited. UnitedHealth advanced over $3 billion to struggling providers while working to bring systems back online.
Investigation into Change Hack
The F.B.I. and the Department of Health and Human Services are investigating whether patient records and personal information were compromised in the Change hack. The incident is a stark reminder of how commonplace ransomware attacks have become in the health care industry. According to data security firm Emsisoft, ransomware attacks on hospital systems rose from 25 in 2022 to 46 last year.
Healthcare: The Most Vulnerable Sector
Healthcare has been identified as the most susceptible sector of the U.S. economy to cyberattacks by cybersecurity consultants and government officials. There are significant concerns about inadequate protections in U.S. health systems. “The entire sector is severely under-resourced when it comes to cybersecurity and information security,” says Errol Weiss, chief security officer for the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center.
Deadly Consequences of Healthcare Hacks
Healthcare hacks can have deadly consequences. Studies show that hospital mortality increases in the aftermath of an attack.
Cybersecurity: A Patient Safety Issue
“Cybersecurity has become a patient safety issue,” says Steve Cagle, CEO of Clearwater, a healthcare compliance firm. Hackers have even made sensitive patient health data public in some cases.
Why is the Healthcare Industry a Target?
Medical records have higher monetary value than stolen credit cards. The data can’t be changed, making it a prime target for hackers. People can sign up for credit-monitoring agencies in case of financial data theft, but they have little recourse if their personal health information is stolen.
Government’s Response
The Biden administration is calling for the Health and Human Services to ensure that hospitals have adequate protections. The administration is considering revisions to regulations about how health data is shared and may impose clearer rules for digital security measures for hospitals.
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