Change Healthcare, a technology company part of UnitedHealth Group’s Optum, reported a “cybersecurity incident” on Feb. 21 that obstructed its healthcare operations and connectivity nationwide.
“Upon learning of the incident, we immediately began mitigation actions and launched our own investigation to determine the scope of any impact on Kaiser Permanente’s operations,” a spokesperson for Kaiser said in a statement shared with Becker’s. “There is no known impact to our members’ and patients’ data or to Kaiser Permanente’s cybersecurity.”
While some Kaiser members seeking retail pharmacy prescriptions might experience delays, Kaiser pharmacies have not been affected by the attacks.
“We are assisting members with alternatives when this happens,” the spokesperson said. “The vendor’s issue could also delay the processing of some claims, or getting bills to some third-party payers for services provided to patients.”
John Muir Health is also feeling the impact of the attacks, with some of its physicians faced with claims processing issues, a spokesperson for John Muir Health told the San Francisco Chronicle.
In an effort to provide relief to those impacted by the cyberattacks, HHS recently shared that it would help accelerate payments to hospitals and implement other workarounds for providers.
Becker’s has reached out to John Muir Health and will update this story as more information becomes available.
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