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If they wanted to, they would.
So many shiny objects. Did you know that for nearly three months, Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of industry giant UnitedHealthcare Group, has been dealing with the most significant health care-related cyberattack in U.S. history?
One in every three medical billings is processed by Change Healthcare—15 billion each year. So far, its parent has spent $22 million in Bitcoin ransom, $3.3 billion for attempted workarounds to process claims and $3 billion in interest-free loans to cash-strapped providers. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State is offering a $10 million reward for info leading to the capture of the hackers. Good luck with that.
HIPAA regulations mandate providers notify mainstream media and customers within 60 days of any cyberattack breaching the privacy of more than 500 patients. In this case, that would be an estimated 85 million notices. No worries, because the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has now sent a "Dear Colleague" letter (oooh, scary) asking why CHC has yet to notify patients that their identities were stolen back on February 21. My money is on the Occam's Razor explanation: "Cuz we didn't wanna."
Just 30 seconds more.
The fallout from the battle over limited health care resources includes cyber failures, which directly impact your ability to access timely and accurate treatment. Granted, there's little (read: nothing) you and I can do as individuals to stop attacks or persuade leadership to prevent them, which, BTW, is totally doable. However, we can each maintain our own digital and print records of crucial health care information. In a medical or cyber emergency, that may be the only data on current medications, health care history and existing conditions. Don't mess around—write it down. Today.
Remember: It's not that there won't be health care for anyone, it's that there won't be health care for everyone. Achieving best health outcomes is a lottery and you gotta play to win.
[Moving target update: One of the nation's largest health care systems, Ascension, which operates hospitals and care facilities in 19 states, suffered a major cyberattack on May 8. Stay tuned.]
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