Cybersecurity Crisis in Healthcare: Addressing the Vulnerabilities and Developing Strategies to Prevent Future Attacks

In the wake of a ransomware attack on Change Healthcare, which brought payments to pharmacies and hospitals to a standstill, policymakers and lobbyists have been working tirelessly to develop strategies to prevent future attacks. These strategies include tying federal aid to cybersecurity requirements and creating new voluntary standards through public-private partnerships.

Washington is taking action to address the technology underpinning health care following the cyberattack on a health care payments processing company. The incident has highlighted the critical role that technology plays in the industry and how vulnerable it is to cyber threats. In response, federal regulators are facing criticism for not being adequately prepared and not acting quickly enough. Some lawmakers are calling for mandatory cybersecurity standards in the health care industry, including regular audits.

The attack on Change Healthcare demonstrated how vulnerabilities in just one company can disrupt critical technology infrastructure that many health care providers and insurers rely on daily. This has led policymakers and lobbyists to push for greater investment in cybersecurity measures across the entire industry. They are also advocating for increased collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders to develop effective strategies for protecting against future attacks.