Washington is taking action against the technology used in healthcare after a cyberattack on a health care payments processing company. This crackdown is expected to have significant implications for hospitals and vendors selling essential IT services. The attack, which targeted Change Healthcare, disrupted pharmacy and hospital payments nationwide.
Since the attack, policymakers and lobbyists have been working to develop strategies to prevent future cyberattacks. These strategies include linking federal aid to minimum cybersecurity requirements and establishing new voluntary standards through public-private partnerships. The incident highlighted how vulnerabilities in one company can impact critical technology infrastructure relied upon by many health care providers and insurers.
The aftermath of the Change Healthcare attack has led to criticism of federal regulators for not being adequately prepared and for not taking prompt action. Some lawmakers are now pushing for mandatory cybersecurity standards for the health care industry, including regular audits to ensure compliance. This incident has brought attention to the importance of cybersecurity in healthcare and the need for stronger measures to protect sensitive data.