Tonight, a number of new developments in what's being called
the biggest cybersecurity attack on America's health care system.
The Department of Health and Human Services is now investigating
United Health Group after hackers shut down the company's payment
processing arm.
3 weeks later. The pharmacy network is now back online,
but many providers are still struggling.
CBS Nicole Schanga reports. A ransomware attack turned national crisis.
It's been one of the most stressful things we've gone
through as a practice,
and that's saying something given that we survived COVID and
for doctors like Christine Meyer,
a personal nightmare. On an average weekday you would get
20-30,
forty $50,000 in deposits and today you got 77.
The hack targeted Change Healthcare,
a unit of United Health forcing the nation's largest medical
payment system,
offline on February 21st. Leaving hospitals and medical practices in
a cash crunch,
so to find ourselves suddenly,
you know, looking at our home and its value and
can we afford to put it up to pay our
employees is a terrible feeling.
White House officials cracking down on United Health Tuesday,
HHS Secretary Javier Becerra demanding the company front hospitals and
doctors more emergency funds.
How are you holding them accountable?
We will not continue to work with a clearinghouse exchange
operation if it can't provide.
The payment for the services that our patients need,
Doctor Meyer stresses it's not just a payroll problem,
it's a patient problem. I'm most worried about having to
reduce our hours,
Our patients that can't come here for their routine things,
their sore throats, their cough,
their blood pressure checks, where are they going to go?
Potentially landing patients in emergency rooms.
What is preventing another ransomware incident like this from happening
tomorrow?
Everyone should be asking themselves,
what's the answer to the question?
What do I need to do to make sure I'm
not the next target?
And what do I need to do to make sure
that if I am a target?
I don't bring a whole bunch of folks down with
me over that Cliff.
Concerns about a potential patient data breach have also prompted
at least six class action lawsuits.
United Health Group said in a statement that it's committed
to providing relief to patients and practices affected.
Nora, this is a big deal.
Nicole Scanga, thank you so much.