Change Healthcare Breach Exposes Data of 100 Million

In one of the largest healthcare data breaches on record, Change Healthcare, a UnitedHealth-owned tech firm, reported that information on 100 million individuals may have been exposed. This incident, which occurred after a ransomware attack in February, has surpassed previous healthcare breaches, including the 2015 Anthem breach that impacted 78.8 million people, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

As a major processor of medical claims, Change Healthcare’s compromised data could affect a significant portion of the U.S. population. UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty estimated in testimony before Congress that nearly one-third of Americans might be affected. Following the attack, healthcare providers faced delays in verifying patient coverage and securing payments, prompting temporary financial relief measures from both the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and UnitedHealth.

The breach has proven costly, with UnitedHealth reporting $2.5 billion in losses, including $1.7 billion in response expenses through September 2024. Change Healthcare has been notifying affected customers and individuals since June and is in ongoing discussions with HHS and other regulatory bodies regarding the incident’s scope.

The rising frequency of healthcare data breaches highlights the sector’s vulnerability to cyberattacks, with over 140 million individuals affected by major breaches in 2023 alone, according to HHS.

Source: Cybersecurity Dive

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