The American health care system is heavily influenced by the actions of UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest insurer and employer of physicians. With ownership of pharmacies, home health agencies and subsidiaries such as Change Healthcare, which processes a large percentage of the country’s medical claims, the company plays a key role in health information management.
In February, a cyberattack on Change Healthcare led to what was described as the largest cyberattack in US healthcare history. The attack had far-reaching consequences, freezing healthcare payments and compromising patient information, causing disruption and chaos in healthcare facilities across the country. The full extent of the impact is still unknown, and efforts to remediate the breach are ongoing.
The fallout from the cyber attack prompted UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Whitty to testify before Congress for the first time in more than 15 years. Lawmakers questioned Whitty about the lack of basic security measures and raised concerns about the company’s size and influence in the healthcare industry. The incident sparked wider discussions about the functioning of the American health care system and the role of large corporations in it.
The situation drew attention to vulnerabilities in the health care system and emphasized the importance of strong cybersecurity measures. The effects of cyberattacks serve as a reminder of