In today’s digital age, the exchange and storage of information has become very common in all sectors of the world, healthcare being no exception. But with this transmission and storage comes the dangers of security and unauthorized access. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted with stringent regulations to safeguard this data and its violations can be severe.

A new survey of physicians details the devastating impact of the Change Healthcare cyber attack on the healthcare sector. In February, a cyber attack on Change Healthcare brought much of the U.S. healthcare system to a halt. The revenue and payment cycle management provider is central to connecting payers, providers and patients within the U.S. healthcare system to ensure payments are made.

The experience of seeing a doctor has transformed dramatically, thanks in part to the emergence of telemedicine. This digital evolution promises convenience and accessibility but brings with it a host of cybersecurity risks that were unimaginable up until a few years ago. The unique cybersecurity challenges facing telemedicine today underscore the importance of adopting stringent security measures to protect the sanctity of this vital service.

April 16, 2024: UnitedHealth Group, parent of Change Healthcare, reported on April 16, 2024 in its Q1 results a negative impact of $872 million “in unfavorable cyberattack effects” due to cyberattack direct response costs and the business disruption impacts. The company anticipates additional costs associated with the attack.

To help secure sensitive data, emails that include health and care information sent to and from health and social care organisations are required to meet the Secure Email Standard (DCB1596). In this article, we discuss the standard, what it covers, and how to ensure your organisation fully meets its requirements.

Telehealth or telemedicine is one of the most common ways of providing healthcare services in the EU, with nearly 77% of countries adopting some type of telehealth service. Countries like Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Italy are considered some of the world’s leaders in providing telehealth services. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth became widely adopted across Europe, with many countries participating in cross-border collaboration.

10.93 million dollars USD. That’s the average cost of a healthcare breach in the U.S. It’s an alarming number that’s only continued to climb, increasing by over 53% in the past three years, according to IBM’s 2023 Cost of a Data Breach Report. In fact, the healthcare industry has had the highest average cost of a breach for 13 years running. It’s not just the costs that are climbing, either.

The ongoing cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a major player in medical claims processing in the United States, had profound repercussions across the healthcare sector. With the company forced to disconnect over 100 systems, medical claims processing ground to a halt. This disruption, termed by the president and chief executive of the American Hospital Association as “the most serious incident of its kind” in healthcare, brought many medical providers to the brink of closure.

Recent cyberattacks and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) research indicate the danger facing the healthcare industry is not subsiding, which means healthcare providers must maintain a high level of alert and continue to bolster their cyber defenses.