No patient safety without strong cybersecurity – Congress must prioritize this

TLDR:

• Change Healthcare ransomware attack has highlighted the need for Congress to fund improved cybersecurity systems for providers.
• The incident not only poses a financial crisis for the healthcare industry but also puts patient safety at risk.

Today’s columnist, Toby Gouker of First Health Advisory, emphasizes the critical need for Congress to understand that patient safety cannot exist without strong cybersecurity in the healthcare industry. The recent Change Healthcare ransomware attack, attributed to the ransomware group ALPHV or BlackCat, has left many systems offline, causing billions of dollars in potential losses for the company. This has raised concerns about the financial stability of provider organizations, especially small practices and rural groups. The Department of Health and Human Services has urged immediate action to mitigate the attack impacts but the full repercussions remain unclear.

The incident is part of a larger trend of targeted attacks on the healthcare industry, with ransomware groups increasingly targeting critical infrastructure. These attacks not only disrupt business operations but also put patient lives at risk. The article stresses the urgent need for Congress to provide funding for healthcare cybersecurity to prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure patient safety.