NE Washington News

House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders, including Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr., have reached out to UnitedHealth Group regarding the recent cyberattack on Change Healthcare. The bipartisan leaders wrote to UnitedHealth Group's CEO Andrew Witty seeking information about the impact of the attack and the steps being taken to address the situation.

In their letter, the Committee leaders expressed their concerns about the disruption caused by the cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a major player in the nation's health care system. They highlighted the importance of securing Change Healthcare's systems and supporting patients and providers affected by the incident.

The Committee noted the significant role Change Healthcare plays in the healthcare industry, with its platforms touching an estimated one in three U.S. patient records and processing billions of transactions annually. The leaders emphasized the need for UnitedHealth Group to take decisive actions to restore system functionality and mitigate the impact on the health care community.

Providers and patients have already felt the consequences of the cyberattack, with reports of providers struggling to make payroll and patients being forced to pay out of pocket for essential medications due to the disruption in services.

The Committee leaders requested detailed information from UnitedHealth Group about the cyberattack, security measures, and outreach efforts to the health care community. They expect responses to their inquiries by April 29, 2024.

The Energy and Commerce Committee's initiative underscores the seriousness of the cyberattack on Change Healthcare and the potential ramifications for the broader health care system. UnitedHealth Group's response to the Committee's inquiries will be crucial in determining the extent of the damage and the steps needed to prevent future incidents.