Well, a cyber attack potentially exposed the personal data of
more than 150 million Americans.
Hackers targeted the largest private health insurance company here in
the US and today Congress grilled the head of United
Health Group about its response.
Channel 9's Kirsten Garris explains what's being done to protect
these patients.
I'm deeply, deeply sorry. It's an apology to millions of
Americans after the crippling cyber attack on Change Healthcare in
February.
United Health Group owns the platform that connects patients.
And pharmacies nationwide. Today, its CEO Andrew Witty told Congress
about the response to the hack.
The decision to pay a ransom was mine.
This was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had
to make and I wouldn't wish it on anyone,
Woody says. Cyber criminals access a portal that was not
protected by multi factor authentication.
And now United Health Group is learning some of the
compromise data contains personal health information.
At this point, Whitney says doctor charts haven't been found
in these files.
But he warns it will take months to notify impacted
patients.
We will not rest. I will not rest until we
fix this.
Both Democrats and Republicans blasted the massive health insurance company
for its lack of protections.
It shouldn't have taken the worst cyber attack ever in
the healthcare sector for an agreement to do this bare
minimum.
How in heaven's name did you not have the necessary
redundancies Change?
Healthcare had only recently become part of United Health Group.
We were in the process of upgrading and modernizing their
technology.
Now, Woody says the company is working to restore trust
for his patients and providers.
We've literally built this platform back from scratch so that
we can reassure people that there are not elements of
the old attacked environment within the new technology at the
new technical environment that we've created.
The FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services
are also involved here.
Officials are keeping an eye on the company's response to
this cyber attack in Washington.
Kirsten Garris, Channel 9 Eyewitness News.