Senator Ron Wyden’s Call to Action: Addressing Cybersecurity Risks in the Healthcare Sector through Reform

In a recent conversation with AHA members, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon expressed his frustration with the cyberattack on Change Healthcare. He believes that this breach posed a significant threat to patients and their personal data. The health care sector, he noted, is a prime target for criminals and foreign adversaries like China and Russia. With middlemen companies controlling core functions in the health care system, they can dictate contract terms to health providers, which could result in systemic cybersecurity risks.

Senator Wyden emphasized the importance of supporting rural hospitals to ensure access to care in those communities. He also discussed the need to crack down on pharmacy benefit managers and their actions that are contributing to the rising cost of prescription drugs. This highlights the complexity of the challenges facing the health care system and the importance of addressing them to protect patients and improve access to care.