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In 2017, Hurricane Maria damaged three IV fluid manufacturing plants in Puerto Rico, also operated by Baxter, which led to a shortage. “Although this particular shortage on these particular IV fluids is not something we’ve encountered,” DeRienzo said. Along with IV fluids, the North Carolina Baxter facility also made specialty fluids, such as peritoneal dialysis fluid as well as irrigation fluids, used to clean wounds. Ganio said those measures won’t solve the ongoing IV fluid shortage problems long term. “The IV fluids are kind of a good example of the chronic shortages,” he said.

Persons: Helene, Erin Fox, ” Fox, Fox, ‘, ” Michael Ganio, ” Ganio, ”, hasn’t, Baxter, Chris DeRienzo, Hurricane Maria, we’ve, ” DeRienzo, Ganio Organizations: Food, Baxter, FDA, University of Utah Health, American Society of Health, System, Braun, ICU, American Hospital Association, Carolina Baxter, of Health, Human Services, HHS Locations: North Carolina, U.S, Saline, Puerto Rico, Carolina, Canada, China, Ireland

Her case is far from unique, however: Hospitals across the United States have said they’re taking steps to conserve their supply of IV fluids, including postponing or canceling nonemergency surgeries. IV fluids do more than deliver drugs or electrolytes directly into a patient’s bloodstream. On Monday, the AHA urged President Joe Biden to declare a nationwide emergency over the limited supply of IV fluids. She’s been dependent on IV nutrition, which delivers nutrients directly into her bloodstream, for more than eight years. Hannah Hale, in 2016 on her first day home after a long hospitalization, with her TPN, or IV nutrition.

Persons: Yvonne Hemz, Abbott Northwestern, Hurricane Helene, Hemze, hasn’t, ”, They’re, Chris DeRienzo, Joe Biden, Hannah Hale, Baxter, Hale, She’s, “, ” Hale, It’s, won’t, ASPR, Alli Longenhagen, Kabi, they’ve, Paul Biddinger, Brigham, Robert, Robert —, —, I’m Organizations: Baxter International, NBC News, Health, Abbott Northwestern, Allina Health, Gatorade, American Hospital Association, AHA, The New York Times, NBC, Food and Drug Administration, U.S, FDA, Administration, Strategic Preparedness, Department of Health, Human Services, Braun, Mass Locations: Farmington , Minnesota, North Carolina, United States, U.S, Dallas, Canada, China, Ireland, United Kingdom, Hale, Daytona Beach , Florida, Hurricane Milton, Boston, Chicago

A limited supply of IV fluid, stemming from damage caused by Hurricane Helene, is forcing some hospitals across the U.S. to postpone elective surgery and other nonemergency procedures to safeguard their stock. He also said the medical center has “doubled down” on efforts to prevent wasting IV fluid, as it’s the area’s only level 1 trauma hospital. A number of IV products, including sodium chloride, dextrose and sterile water, have already been in short supply. The Baxter facility shutdown hasn’t led to any new IV fluid shortages yet, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. On Tuesday, the agency also helped safely move IV products from B. Braun Medical’s Daytona Beach facilities out of the path of Hurricane Milton, Dembner said.

Persons: Hurricane Helene, Helene, Eric Swensen, Swensen, —, “, Christine Hill, ”, Joe Biden, Baxter, it’s, Zachary Dembner, Braun, Dembner, Alli Longenhagen, ” Shea Siegert, ” Siegert Organizations: Baxter International, Braun, Minnesota Hospital Association, Baxter’s, UVA Health University Medical Center, Minnesota Hospital, Facebook, ”, ” Hennepin Healthcare, American Hospital Association, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health, Human Services, FDA, Administration, Strategic Preparedness, HHS, Enloe Health, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Locations: North Carolina, Daytona Beach , Florida, Baxter’s North Carolina, Charlottesville , Virginia, Culpeper , Haymarket, Manassas, U.S, ” Hennepin, Minneapolis, Hurricane, East, Gulf, Puerto Rico, Hurricane Milton, Chico , California

☆ These are America's 10 worst states for quality of life in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Scott Cohn | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

2024 Quality of Life Score: 119 out of 325 Points (Top States Grade: D-) Strengths: Crime, Voting Rights, Worker Protections Weaknesses: Air Quality, Reproductive Rights, Health Care9. 2024 Quality of Life Score: 98 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Air Quality Weaknesses: Voting Rights, Crime, Reproductive Rights6. 2024 Quality of Life Score: 96 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: F) Strengths: Child Care, Air Quality Weaknesses: Crime, Inclusiveness, Health Care5. 2024 Quality of Life Score: 85 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Air Quality Weaknesses: Reproductive Rights, Health, Worker Protections, Voting Rights3. 2024 Quality of Life Score: 83 out of 325 points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Child Care Weaknesses: Voting Rights, Inclusiveness, Worker Protections2.

Persons: CNBC's, Rebecca Noble, Katie Hobbs, Kansas Thomas Barwick, Bacchus, Chandan Khanna, Wesley Bell, Michael B, Thomas, Michael Pomante, Bill Lee's, Seth Herald, Bill Lee, Oklahoma Dr, Franz Theard, Paul Ratje, Dobbs, Oklahomans, Elijah Nouvelage, Darwin Varela, Brandon Bell Organizations: Business, Arizona, Abortion, Arizona House Republicans, American Lung Association, American Hospital Association, Democratic, Health, Kansas, Digitalvision, Getty, FBI, Louisiana Police, AFP, United Health Foundation, Louisiana Department of Education, Louis County Board, United Democracy Center ., Tennessee Educators, The Tennessee Bureau, Investigation, Volunteer State, Rights, Republican Gov, Care, National Conference of State Legislatures, Reproductive Clinic, Washington, Washington Post, Guttmacher, Sooner State, Alabama Voters, Alabama, Center, Election Innovation, Research, Oxfam America, State, Indiana, Getty Images Indiana, Hoosier State, Reproductive, Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center Locations: States, Arizona, Phoenix , Arizona, Sunflower, America . Kansas, Kansas, New Orleans, Pelican, Louisiana, Missouri, Louis, Louis County, St, Ann , Missouri, United Democracy Center . Missouri, Tennessee, Nashville, Nashville , Tennessee, Seth, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Santa Teresa , New Mexico, Oxford , Alabama, Delaware , Mississippi, New Hampshire, Alabama, Hoosier, Indiana, Eagle Pass , Texas

☆ Rural hospitals keep getting attacked by cybercriminals. Microsoft and Google are working to fix that
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | Michelle Watson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Microsoft and Google will offer free or discounted cybersecurity services to rural hospitals across the United States to make them less vulnerable to cyberattacks that have disrupted patient care and threatened lives, the White House and Microsoft said Monday. Microsoft said in a statement to CNN that it would provide free security updates for eligible rural hospitals, as well as security assessments and training for hospital staff. Google will provide free cybersecurity advice to rural hospitals and start a pilot program to match the firm’s cybersecurity services with the needs of rural hospitals, Anne Neuberger, the top cyber official at the White House National Security Council, told reporters on Sunday. The nation’s roughly 1,800 rural community hospitals are among the most vulnerable to dangerous ransomware attacks because they often lack IT security resources and cybersecurity-trained staff. “We do see a much more permissive environment in Russia by both hacktivists and criminals, and it’s of concern,” Neuberger, the White House official, told reporters.

Persons: Anne Neuberger, Biden, “, ” Neuberger, ” Cleveland, Justin Bibb’s, Cleveland, Bibb’s Organizations: CNN, Microsoft, Google, White House, White House National Security Council, Sunday, American Hospital Association, National Intelligence, UnitedHealth, FBI, Department of Public Safety, Department of Public Utilities Locations: United States, Russia, City, Cleveland

☆ Senators demand UnitedHealth own patient data hack
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Federal law known as the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) generally requires health care providers to notify people within 60 days of discovering a breach affecting their personal health data. The Department of Health and Human Services is already investigating whether UnitedHealth is compliant with HIPAA obligations to protect patient data. HHS can use HIPAA to fine companies for failing to protect patient data. The department announced a $4.75 million settlement in February with a nonprofit hospital system in New York for “data security failures” that the department said resulted in an employee stealing and selling patient data. On May 31, the HHS Office for Civil Rights clarified that health care providers can delegate that obligation to Change Healthcare.

Persons: Andrew, New Hampshire Democratic Sen, Maggie Hassan, Tennessee Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, ”, Eric Hausman, Hassan, Blackburn, Sen, Ron Wyden, UnitedHealth’s Organizations: Washington CNN, UnitedHealth, New, New Hampshire Democratic, Tennessee Republican, of Health, Human Services, CNN, HHS, Healthcare, Civil Rights, American Hospital Association, Optum, Capitol, Senate, Oregon Democrat, Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC Locations: New Hampshire, Tennessee, New York, Wyden

☆ Damaging hacks expose the weak underbelly of America’s health care system
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN —A pair of recent ransomware attacks crippled computer systems at two major American health care firms, disrupting patient care and exposing fundamental weaknesses in the US health care system’s defenses against hackers. Health care lags other industries such as big financial institutions and energy providers when it comes to IT security, according to some experts. The two ransomware attacks hit different nerves of the health care system. Momentum is also growing on Capitol Hill to force health care organizations to meet basic cybersecurity standards. More broadly, the Justice Department last week announced a task force to examine “health care monopolies and collusion” that will guide the department’s approach to “civil and criminal enforcement in health care markets,” where warranted.

Persons: cybersecurity, ” Joshua Corman, Sen, Ron Wyden, ”, cybercriminals, Biden, Anne Neuberger, Mark Warner, ” Carter Groome, Corman, ‘, ” Sen, Marsha Blackburn, Andrew Organizations: Washington CNN, Biden, “ Industry, CNN, Oregon Democrat, ransomware, Change Healthcare, White House, American Hospital Association, Department of Health, Human Services, Virginia Democrat, Healthcare, cybersecurity, Health, Cavalry, UnitedHealth, Optum, Tennessee Republican, Justice Department, UnitedHealth Group, Wall Street, Department Locations: St, Louis, United States, Virginia, Tennessee

☆ Hospital wait times will still be bad this year, even with labor gains
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Small businesses are seeing labor growth this year, but hospitals still have staffing shortages. Healthcare worker numbers are steadily growing but remain below pre-pandemic trends, according to a Bank of America report published in April. Outpatient care centers are 9.4% behind on growth, while the hospital labor force has seen small gains at 0.3%. In fact, healthcare workers made up a significant portion of the people leaving their jobs during the Great Resignation. Patients will still see labor shortages in ERs and care facilitiesDespite labor gains, patients could still experience the impacts of the physician shortage.

Persons: —, Per, KFF Organizations: Service, Bank of America, The Bank of America Institute, of Labor Statistics, Centers, Medicare, Services, Kaiser Family Foundation, American Hospital Association, of America, Peterson Center, Healthcare, of Health, Bank of

☆ UnitedHealth Group has paid more than $3 billion to providers following cyberattack
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

UnitedHealth Group has paid out an additional $1 billion to providers that have been impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack since last week, bringing the total amount of funds advanced to more than $3.3 billion, the company said on Wednesday. UnitedHealth, which owns Change Healthcare, discovered in February that a cyber threat actor had breached part of the unit's information technology network. The interruptions left many health-care providers temporarily unable to fill prescriptions or get reimbursed for their services by insurers. Many health-care providers rely on reimbursement cash flow to operate, so the fallout has been substantial. Federal agencies like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have introduced additional options to ensure that states and other stakeholders can make interim payments to providers, according to a release.

Persons: UnitedHealth, it's, Mandiant, Jamie Raskin, Andrew, Raskin, Biden Organizations: UnitedHealth, Healthcare, SEC, CNBC, American Hospital Association, Medicare, Medicaid Services, U.S . Department of Justice, of State, Wednesday, United Health, Palo Alto Networks, Change Healthcare Locations: Palo

UnitedHealth is testing the last major system it must restore from last month’s Change Healthcare cyberattack, but it has no date yet for finishing the recovery. The health care giant said Monday that it is testing software for submitting medical claims. Photos You Should See View All 60 ImagesEarlier this month, UnitedHealth said that it restored nearly all of Change Healthcare’s system for processing prescriptions. Late last week, the company restored Change Healthcare’s electronic payments platform, which involves billing and payments between care providers and payers like insurers. UnitedHealth said Monday that it is expanding temporary funding to support doctors and other care providers affected by the attack.

Persons: UnitedHealth Organizations: Healthcare, American Hospital Association, Federal, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP

☆ Hacked health care giant makes progress in recovery, but concerns for small clinics remain
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Change Healthcare says it handles one in every three patient records in the US. Change Healthcare restored its electronic payments platform on March 15 and “is proceeding with payer implementations,” UnitedHealthGroup said in a statement on Monday. “Billions of dollars” stopped flowing to health care providers because of the hack, according to AHA, which represents thousands of hospitals across the country. The unprecedented pressure on a hacked US health care firm won’t go away with the restoration of billing services. HHS has opened an investigation into whether Change Healthcare has complied with federal law to protect patient data.

Persons: ”, ” UnitedHealthGroup, won’t Organizations: CNN, Biden, American Hospital Association, Healthcare, AHA, White House, Department of Health, Human Services, HHS Locations: United States, Colorado, Oregon

☆ UnitedHealth Group has paid more than $2 billion to providers following cyberattack
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

UnitedHealth Group said Monday that it's paid out more than $2 billion to help health-care providers who have been affected by the cyberattack on subsidiary Change Healthcare. "We continue to make significant progress in restoring the services impacted by this cyberattack," UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty said in a press release. "We know this has been an enormous challenge for health care providers and we encourage any in need to contact us." It also introduced a temporary funding assistance program to help health-care providers experiencing cash flow trouble because of the attack. A survey published by the American Hospital Association on Friday found that 94% of hospitals have experienced financial disruptions from the Change Healthcare attack.

Persons: it's, Andrew, UnitedHealth, Rick Pollack, Biden, UnitedHealth hasn't, Scott Gottlieb Organizations: UnitedHealth, Change Healthcare, Healthcare, Medicare, Medicaid Services, American Hospital Association, Administration, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, Office, Civil Rights, Palo Alto Networks, Google Locations: Palo

☆ Small practices are struggling to stay afloat 3 weeks after the cyberattack that crippled the US healthcare industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

It's been three weeks since a cyberattack on an under-the-radar but critical technology company caused the payments that flow between healthcare providers and insurers to grind to a halt nationwide. The US healthcare system has been crippled by the cyberattack on Change Healthcare, the company owned by UnitedHealth Group that connects healthcare providers and pharmacies to insurers and facilitates 15 billion transactions each year. And some patients can't afford their prescriptions because pharmacies can't process drug coupons. For many healthcare providers, UnitedHealth and the federal government's response to the ongoing crisis has fallen short. Industry groups including the American Hospital Association and American Medical Association urged the federal government to provide emergency financial support to healthcare providers.

Persons: It's, Sarah von Colditz, Von Colditz, she's, von Colditz, greenlit, UnitedHealth, it's, Kate Ecke, wasn't, Ecke, I've, Optum, Keely Helmick, CareOregon, She's, Helmick, I'm, Brittany Goff, she'd, hasn't, Goff, we're, they've, Tiffany Kettermann, Kettermann Organizations: Business, Healthcare, UnitedHealth Group, US Justice Department, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, US Health, Human Services Department, Unconventional, HHS, Zen Psychological, Health Allies, Covid Locations: Astoria , Oregon, New Jersey, Portland , Oregon, Maryland, Shoreline

☆ ‘We’re hemorrhaging money’: US health clinics try to stay open after unprecedented cyberattack
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —For more than two weeks, a cyberattack has disrupted business at health care providers across the United States, forcing small clinics to scramble to stay in business and exposing the fragility of the billing system that underpins American health care. It prevented some insurance payments on prescription drugs from processing, leaving many care providers effectively footing the bill without reimbursement. Health care groups have pleaded with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to offer medical practices a financial lifeline. A week ago, Change Healthcare announced plans for a temporary loan program to get money flowing to health care providers affected by the outage. Tyler Mason, a spokesperson for Change Healthcare, declined to comment when asked if the company had paid off the hackers.

Persons: ”, Catherine Reinheimer, Mel Davies, ” Jesse Ehrenfeld, Reinheimer, Richard Pollack, Carter Groome, ” Groome, Tyler Mason, ALPHV, ” Ari Redbord, Joshua Corman, Corman, “ Organizations: CNN, Change Healthcare, Health, Department of Health, Human Services, Oregon Oncology, Healthcare, American Medical Association, US, Medical Group Management Association, Community Oncology Alliance, American Hospital Association, Justice Department, ALPHV, Labs Locations: United States, Philadelphia, UnitedHealth, Oregon

The ramifications of a cyberattack on a critical health care technology company are still being felt across the U.S. nearly two weeks later. Change Healthcare has acknowledged the hack, which reportedly affected billing and care authorization portals. “Our experts are working to address the matter, and we are working closely with law enforcement and leading third-party consultants such as Mandiant and Palo Alto Networks on this attack against Change Healthcare’s systems,” Change Healthcare said. “On Feb. 21, 2024, we discovered a threat actor gained access to one of our Change Healthcare environments,” Change Healthcare said. A spokesperson affiliated with Change Healthcare declined to answer whether a ransom has been paid, according to Wired.

Persons: paychecks, Chuck Schumer, Jesse Ehrenfeld, Rick Pollack, “, ”, Schumer, ” Schumer, Pollack Organizations: Healthcare, Palo Alto Networks, New, American Medical Association, Department of Health, Human Services, American Hospital Association, HHS, AHA, UnitedHealth Group, The Washington Post, Justice Department, Health, Medicare, Medicaid Services, Wired, Change Healthcare Locations: U.S, Palo, New York, Optum

☆ Health insurance giant roiled by cyberattack sets up loan program for cash-strapped health providers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Change Healthcare, the health insurance IT giant disrupted for days by a cyberattack, on Friday announced plans for a temporary loan program to get money flowing to health care providers affected by the outage. It’s a stop-gap measure meant to give some financial relief to health care providers, which analysts say are losing millions of dollars per day because of the outage. Some US officials and health care executives told CNN it may be weeks before Change Healthcare returns to normal operations. The temporary loan program will help health care providers with “short-term cash flow needs,” Change Healthcare said in a statement. A unit of healthcare conglomerate UnitedHealth, Change Healthcare processes prescriptions to insurance for tens of thousands of pharmacies nationwide.

Persons: ” Carter Groome Organizations: CNN, Friday, Healthcare, White, Health, Human Services, Senior, American Hospital Association, First Health, Justice Department Locations: Maryland, Michigan

☆ Ransomware group Blackcat is behind cyberattack on UnitedHealth division, company says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Traders work at the post where UnitedHealth Group is traded on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The company said it's working with Mandiant, which is owned by Google , and cybersecurity software vendor Palo Alto Networks . In a since-deleted post on the dark web, Blackcat said Wednesday that it was behind the attack on Change Healthcare's systems. Change's parent company UnitedHealth Group said it discovered that a cyber threat actor breached part of the unit's information technology network on Feb. 21, according to a filing with the SEC. Brett Callow, a threat analyst at the cybersecurity company Emsisoft, said ransomware groups will often make posts like these in an effort to bring victims to the negotiating table.

Persons: that's, Blackcat, Brett Callow, Emsisoft, Callow, they're, UnitedHealth, John Riggi, Riggi Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Healthcare, CNBC, Google, Palo Alto Networks, UnitedHealth, SEC, U.S . Department of Justice, Change Healthcare, American Hospital Association Locations: U.S

☆ Cyberattack on health insurance IT giant continues to disrupt business for doctors, therapists
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“I’ve begun manually billing and I’m praying that I will be paid,” Disney told CNN. Lack of payment isn’t sustainableCarter Groome, chief executive of Health First Advisory, a cybersecurity firm whose clients include big health care organizations, estimated that some health care providers are losing more than $100 million per day because of the outage. “That’s just not sustainable in an industry with not a lot of cash on hand,” Groome told CNN. As of Wednesday morning, Change Health Care said the company’s affected network was still offline. Hackers using the malware have claimed a slew of attacks on US universities, health care providers and hotels in the last 18 months.

Persons: “ I’ve, ” Disney, Purvi, Parikh hasn’t, Carter Groome, That’s, ” Groome, ”, Leslie Porras, ” Porras, Tyler Mason, Mason, Parikh, ” Mason, Amy Cizik, Cizik, ” Cizik, Andrea Palm, ALPHV ransomware, John Riggi, ” Riggi Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Disney, Health, Advisory, Pipeline, ”, Healthcare, Care, “, Senior US, FBI, Human Service, Homeland Security, Reuters, Justice Department, American Hospital Association, AHA Locations: Maryland, New York, Utah, Salt Lake City

☆ Outages from cyberattack at UnitedHealth's Change Healthcare extend to seventh day as pharmacies deploy workarounds
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Change Healthcare's systems are down for the seventh day after a cyber threat actor gained access to its network last week. Change Healthcare offers tools for payment and revenue cycle management, and its system outages have disrupted operations in pharmacies and health systems across the country. Change Healthcare merged with Optum in 2022. Rising number of health-care cyberattacksThe attack on Change Healthcare comes after 2023 set a grim record for health-related cybercrime. Impact of Change Healthcare's breachUnitedHealth has not specifically disclosed exactly which Change Healthcare systems have been affected, but the fallout from the cyberattack has caused a ripple of problems across the U.S. health-care system.

Persons: UnitedHealth, John Riggi, Riggi, Cliff Steinhauer, Steinhauer, Cary Brazeman, Brazeman, hadn't Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, UnitedHealth Group, U.S . Securities, Exchange, Change Healthcare, Change, Optum, Healthcare, Palo Alto Networks, Google, CNBC, American Hospital Association, National Cybersecurity Alliance, CVS Health, Walgreens Locations: U.S, Palm Springs

☆ UnitedHealth subsidiary Change Healthcare down for a fourth day following cyberattack
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Ashley Capoot | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Change Healthcare's systems are down for a fourth straight day after parent company UnitedHealth Group disclosed that a suspected cybersecurity threat actor gained access to part of its information technology network on Wednesday. UnitedHealth, the biggest health-care company in the U.S. by market cap, owns the health-care provider Optum, which merged with Change Healthcare in 2022. Optum services more than 100 million patients in the U.S., according to its website, and Change Healthcare offers solutions for payment and revenue cycle management. ET Saturday, Change Healthcare said the disruption is expected to continue "at least" through the day. The AHA declined to comment on the Change Healthcare cyberattack.

Persons: UnitedHealth, We're, CISA Organizations: UnitedHealth Group, Healthcare, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, CNBC, CVS Health, CVS, American Hospital Association, AHA, Department of Health, Human Services, FBI, Infrastructure Security Agency, HHS Locations: U.S

☆ Cyberattack leaves patients facing the choice to pay – or wait for their prescriptions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

It is only the latest in long list of hacking incidents that have roiled the health care sector in the last few years. Mara FurlichPrescription insurance processing at big university health systems in Indiana and California have also been disrupted, according to internal email correspondence at the health systems reviewed by CNN. In a regulatory filing Thursday, Change Healthcare’s parent firm said “suspected nation-state associated” hackers had breached some of their computer systems. The Change Healthcare spokesperson declined to comment when asked on what information the company based its assessment that foreign government-linked hackers could be responsible. The FBI and CISA did not respond for requests for comment on whether they agreed with Change Healthcare’s assessment on who was responsible for the hack.

Persons: Mara Furlich, Furlich, ” Furlich, Camp Pendleton, Luke Bonczyk, Abi, ”, “, CISA, Max Henderson Organizations: CNN, FDA, Healthcare, Naval Hospital, American Hospital Association, FBI, Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Health, Human Services, HHS, Optum, “ Locations: United States, Detroit, Camp Pendleton, Southern California, Indiana, California

Hospitals in recent years have shifted their use of online technology to support everything from telehealth to medical devices to patient records. Brett Callow, an analyst for the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, counted 46 cyberattacks on hospitals last year, compared with 25 in 2022. The dramatic increase in these online raids has prompted the nation’s top health agency to develop new rules for hospitals to protect themselves from cyber threats. The attacks can put hospitals’ networks offline for weeks or months, forcing hospitals to turn away patients. In Chicago, Lurie hospital’s network has been offline for two weeks.

Persons: —, John Riggi, Association’s, “, ” Riggi, Ann, Robert H, Lurie, Brett Callow, Emsisoft, ” Callow, Callow, ”, Andrea Palm, Palm, Jason Castillo’s, Castillo, ” Castillo, it’s, Kathleen Foody Organizations: WASHINGTON, Midwestern children's, American, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, FBI, of Health, Human Services, Health, HHS, Associated Press Locations: Midwestern, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Chicago

Fewer than half of rural hospitals now have maternity units, prompting government officials and families to scramble for answers. The closures have worsened so-called “maternity care deserts" — counties with no hospitals or birth centers that offer obstetric care and no OB providers. Ultimately, doctors and researchers say, having fewer hospital maternity units makes having babies less safe. “It feels like you’re held in a way.”Some states and communities are taking steps to create more freestanding birth centers. It was a novel and “innovative” idea to request federal nurses to boost staffing at a rural maternity unit, Wyden’s office said.

Persons: Alisha Alderson, ”, Alderson, “, Eric Scott Palmer, It’s, —, Peiyin Hung, Saint Alphonsus, Odette Bolano, Dina Ellwanger, John Tucker, Tucker, we’ve, ’, Lacy Kee, she’ll, She’s, Kee, Henry, Pamela Evans, Evans, she’s, Katie O’Brien, Paris, Bennett —, O’Brien, Corina Fitch, Fitch, Betsy Baarspul, you’re, Ned Lamont, Alecia McGregor, ” McGregor, Tina Kotek, Sen, Ron Wyden, Shane Alderson, Alisha's, ” ___ Rush, Kuna , Idaho . Ungar, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: OB, Henry County Medical Center, American Hospital Association, University of South, University of South Carolina’s Rural, Minority Health Research Center, Saint, Henry County Medical, Associated Press, Medicaid, Midwifery, Connecticut Gov, Harvard, of Public Health, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, AP, Oregon Gov, U.S . Public Health Service, Corps, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Locations: Oregon, Boise , Idaho, U.S, Tennessee, University of South Carolina’s, Baker City, Paris , Tennessee, Kentucky, Henry County, Summertown , Tennessee, Connecticut, Chan, “, Baker, Baker City , Oregon, Kuna , Idaho

☆ Ransomware Attack Disrupts Health Care Services in at Least Three States
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Rebecca Carballo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

CharterCARE Health Partners, a Rhode Island affiliate, said on Facebook Thursday that it had to reschedule some of its appointments and to revert to paper records. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that computers were also down at Crozer Health facilities in Delaware County. “Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. recently experienced a data security incident that has disrupted our operations,” the company said in a statement on Saturday. Waterbury Hospital, in Waterbury, Conn., said on Saturday that it was continuing to have disruptions. It also said that some of its outpatient and diagnostic imaging services had not been available on Friday or Saturday.

Persons: John Riggi Organizations: CharterCARE Health Partners, Rhode Island, Facebook, Philadelphia Inquirer, Crozer Health, “ Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc, Waterbury Hospital, American Hospital Association Locations: Delaware County, Waterbury, Conn

☆ Hospitals rely on volunteers for $5 billion a year of free work — and some could be violating federal labor laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Lauren Sausser | Kaiser Health News | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The US health system benefits from potentially over $5 billion in free volunteer labor annually. Like paid employees, hospital volunteers typically face mandatory vaccine requirements, background checks, and patient privacy training. Hedges was furloughed for the better part of six months when hospital volunteers were sent home in March 2020. Nonprofit and for-profit hospitals alike benefit from volunteersNonprofit hospitals must follow federal labor laws, too. Nonprofit hospitals are required to provide a benefit to their communities, such as offering charity care, in exchange for their special tax status.

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