A cyberattack on one of the nation’s largest healthcare technology companies, Change Healthcare, has caused delays for pharmacies across the country. Change Healthcare, responsible for handling orders and patient payments throughout the US, first noticed the cyber security issue on Wednesday morning. In order to protect their partners and patients, they took immediate action to disconnect their systems and prevent further impact. Pharmacies nationwide have reported disruptions in processing patients’ orders due to the attack.
The 22nd Medical Group, a medical center based around McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas, posted a notice informing patients of a temporary pharmacy outage and assuring them that they are working diligently to resolve the issue. They estimate that the issue will be resolved by tomorrow or later and will continue to provide updates on their progress. Michigan-based Canadian Lakes Pharmacy also took to social media to inform customers about the nationwide outage affecting prescription processors.
While the nature and origin of the cyber security issue are unknown at this time, a spokesperson for CVS stated that there is no indication that their systems have been compromised. However, they are aware of the outages and acknowledge that most insurance plans cannot be billed during this time. They urge customers to wait a day or so to pick up their prescriptions if possible, but assure them that they will do their best to accommodate individual needs.
Change Healthcare has not provided a definitive timeline for a return to service, but the outage is expected to last until Friday. They have business continuity plans in place to minimize disruption of service and ensure access to care. While they continue to fill prescriptions, they may not be able to process insurance claims in certain cases. They apologize for any inconvenience caused and assure customers that they are working to address this issue.
In conclusion, the cyberattack on Change Healthcare has had wide-reaching effects on pharmacies across the country. Patients are experiencing delays in prescription orders due to disruptions in processing caused by the attack. Despite the lack of information regarding the nature and origin of the attack, pharmacies and healthcare companies are working diligently to resolve the issue and minimize the impact on patients. It is hoped that service will be fully restored by Friday, but until then, customers are advised to be patient and understanding.
