The cybersecurity incident at Change Healthcare is impacting patients and health care operations across the country and here in Washington. The American Hospital Association (AHA) is taking the lead on coordinating the hospital response to this event, and we are in regular contact with their leadership.
A chief area of concern is to what extent this issue is preventing or impeding patients from getting care. We know some patients are unable to fill prescriptions, which could lead to more emergency room visits or health crises. As the extent of the attack unfolds, we are also concerned about pre-authorizations, referrals and eligibility checks. We are already hearing serious concerns about the impact on revenue cycles at some hospitals.
To better understand the impact of the attack here, AHA has asked us to gather information from Washington hospitals to share with Change Healthcare, the FBI and Congress. They will use this information to determine what support might be needed. We will be working with members to collect the relevant information. We have sent a communication to all hospital members with more details about this process.
For more information about these steps, please reach out to WSHA Vice President of Data Analytics and IT Services Jonathan Bennett at jonathanb@wsha.org. You can also learn more by visiting the AHA’s resource page at Change Healthcare Cyberattack Updates | AHA.
Sincerely,
Cassie Sauer
WSHA President & CEO
cassies@wsha.org
