Bill Cassidy - Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Bill Cassidy - Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Tommy Tuberville have called for transparency from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding their response to the recent cyberattack on Change Healthcare. The senators expressed concern over the lack of information provided by HHS in the aftermath of the attack, which has severely impacted patients and health care providers.
In a letter addressed to Secretary Becerra, the senators highlighted the disruptive nature of the cyberattack on Change Healthcare, stating that it has hindered patients from accessing timely care. They criticized HHS for the delay in issuing a formal statement about the incident, with Cassidy and Tuberville noting that it took HHS 13 days to respond after the attack was publicly reported.
The senators emphasized the importance of HHS fulfilling its role as the primary coordinating body for cybersecurity incidents in the health care sector. They raised questions about HHS' ability to effectively execute this role in light of the recent cyberattacks and the agency's inadequate response.
Cassidy and Tuberville requested answers from HHS regarding the timeline of notification about the cyberattack, the reasons for the delay in issuing a statement, and the steps being taken to ensure affected providers do not suffer from secondary cybersecurity intrusions. They also inquired about the tools offered to affected entities to identify and patch vulnerabilities, as well as measures to facilitate claims submission and payment processes for affected parties.
The senators also sought information on how HHS is coordinating its response with other federal agencies involved in cybersecurity, such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
In conclusion, Cassidy and Tuberville urged HHS to provide detailed information on its response to the Change Healthcare cyberattack and to improve communication with Congress and affected stakeholders. They emphasized the need for timely updates and proactive measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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