Press & Releases

 

This report examines how resource-constrained health care systems – small, rural, critical access, family clinics, skilled nursing facilities, FQHCs and many more across the country – are only marginally prepared for ongoing cyber threats to clinical care and operational liquidity, and recommends forms of support they would need against stiffer cybersecurity regulatory requirements.

Washington, D.C., April 16, 2024 – Today, the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC) testified on a panel to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health about the aftermath of the Change Healthcare cyber attack on the nation’s health systems, and how to prevent future disruptions of such magnitude.

Testimony of Greg Garcia, Executive Director of the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council Cybersecurity Working Group on “Examining Health Sector Cybersecurity in the Wake of the Change Healthcare Attack” before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, on April 16, 2024.

In light of continuing concerns expressed by health providers about their difficulty getting answers from healthcare plans about the availability of prospective payments or the flexibilities while the Change Healthcare platform is unavailable, HHS asked health plans to provide specific national contact information that providers can use when they need this information. The attached letter from HHS with an appendix for Plan/Payer contact information is made widely available and should be shared with providers who need it. HHS also advises that if a provider has a regional point of contact for your health plan, they suggest you reach out to them first. If you reach out to these contacts and do not receive a response, please contact HHS at HHScyber@hhs.gov.