AHP Hosts Townhalls on Change Healthcare Cyberattack
March 21st, 2024 | Payer Information•NewsOn February 21, 2024, the UnitedHealth Group (UHG) subsidiary, Change Healthcare, was the target of a massive cyberattack, marking the largest assault on a healthcare system to date and exposing the vulnerabilities within the industry. The breach caused widespread disruptions across various levels, affecting critical functions such as pharmacy services, claim submissions, and pre-authorizations. A quarter of all U.S. healthcare practices, including many in the AHP network, faced severe economic hardship due to the incident.
In response to this disruption, AHP held two town hall meetings on March 7th and March 14th to facilitate dialogue among community practices regarding the challenges encountered in claim filing and reimbursement processes. Members of the Excellus BCBS and AHP teams were present to answer questions live. In updates on March 18th, UnitedHealth Group shared that testing of the online claims system had begun and that electronic payments were restored. Per UHG, some delays are still expected as providers restart their use of the platforms.
Because we recognize the importance of ongoing and transparent communication as providers await a solution, AHP has scheduled another tentative town hall on March 21st at 12:30 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Angelique Cohen.
Stay current on the latest updates from UnitedHealth Group and read the latest release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
