UnitedHealth Group Expects Full Restoration of Change Healthcare Systems by Mid-March

UnitedHealth Group has announced that it is working to restore Change Healthcare's systems by mid-March, potentially bringing an end to the disruption caused by the recent ransomware attack. The cyber threat, which was discovered on February 21st, affected critical operations within the U.S. health-care system.

Swift Response and Recovery

The company swiftly responded to the breach, isolating and disconnecting the impacted systems upon detection. However, this action resulted in the interruption of pharmacy services, payment platforms, and medical claims processes.

Restoration Efforts

UnitedHealth has reported that electronic prescribing is now fully functional, with payment transmission and claim submissions currently available. The company anticipates that electronic payment functionality will be restored by March 15th. Additionally, testing for connectivity with the claims network and software is scheduled to commence on March 18th.

Commitment to Relief

CEO Andrew Witty expressed the company's commitment to providing relief for those affected by the malicious attack on the U.S. health system.

Temporary Funding Assistance Program

In response to the attack, UnitedHealth has introduced a temporary funding assistance program aimed at helping health-care providers facing cash flow challenges. The program includes further funding solutions for providers, with funds being advanced on a weekly basis. Providers who have exhausted all available options and work with payers who have chosen not to advance funds during the period of system disruption will also be included in the expanded program. The advances provided will not require repayment until claims flows return to normal.

Identification of the Cyber Threat Group

In late February, Change Healthcare identified the ransomware group responsible for the attack as Blackcat, also known as Noberus and ALPHV. This group has a history of stealing sensitive data and threatening to publish it unless a ransom is paid.

Challenges in the Health-Care Sector

Ransomware attacks pose significant risks within the health-care sector, as they can directly impact patient safety when life-saving systems are compromised. Despite the attack, UnitedHealth has not disclosed the nature of the compromised data or confirmed any ransom payments.