Cyberattack on Change Healthcare causes nationwide pharmacy disruptions

[SIMONE DEL ROSARIO]

PHARMACIES ARE ON THE FRITZ ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OF AN ONGOING CYBERATTACK AGAINST A BRANCH OF UNITEDHEALTH GROUP. 

THE TARGET IS CHANGE HEALTHCARE, ONE OF THE NATION’S LARGEST COMMERCIAL PRESCRIPTION PROCESSORS. THE ATTACK IS KEEPING PHARMACIES FROM BEING ABLE TO PROCESS PRESCRIPTIONS FOR PATIENTS. 

UNITEDHEALTH IS BLAMING THE ATTACK ON SUSPECTED GOVERNMENT-BACKED HACKERS, BUT HASN’T SAID WHICH COUNTRY. THE COMPANY SAYS THEY’VE DISCONNECTED ONLINE SYSTEMS TO PROTECT PATIENT INFORMATION AND BELIEVE THEY’VE ISOLATED THE IMPACT.

IN AN SEC FILING, UNITEDHEALTH REPORTS:

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INCORPORATED

“The company is working diligently to restore those systems and resume normal operations as soon as possible, but cannot estimate the duration or extent of the disruption at this time.”

[SIMONE DEL ROSARIO]

THE DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY REVEALED THAT THIS ATTACK IS AFFECTING MILITARY CLINICS AND HOSPITALS WORLDWIDE, ALONG WITH SOME RETAIL PHARMACIES LIKE CVS AND WALGREENS.

STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS –  A TRUSTED SOURCE FOR UNBIASED REPORTING –  HAS VERIFIED WITH THREE MAJOR VA MEDICAL CENTERS AND THE 55TH MEDICAL GROUP AT OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE IN NEBRASKA — THAT ONLINE PRESCRIPTION SERVICES ARE STILL UNAVAILABLE.

HOWEVER, THE DHA SAYS THESE CLINICS AND HOSPITALS WILL MANUALLY PROCESS OUTPATIENT PRESCRIPTIONS UNTIL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED.

MEANWHILE, THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION IS URGING HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO DISCONNECT FROM CHANGE HEALTHCARE AND CHECK THEIR OWN SYSTEMS FOR IMPACT. AHA SAYS IT’S WORKING WITH THE FBI, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AGENCY.

DUE TO THE OUTAGES, PATIENTS OF AFFECTED RETAIL PHARMACIES ARE FACING PRESCRIPTION DELAYS. TRICARE, THE MILITARY’S HEALTH PROGRAM, HAS COMMITTED TO PRIORITIZING URGENT PRESCRIPTIONS AT ITS PHARMACIES.