Opinion editor's note: editorial They represent the opinion of the Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently of the newsroom.
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The subject line of an email from a Star Tribune reader contained the word “despair.” Author: Karin Olson, 76, of Litchfield. She has type 1 diabetes and relies on Dexcom's continuous blood glucose monitoring system to manage this serious condition.
Olson, a former nurse, recently found herself facing a potential care crisis through no fault of her own. According to GoodRx.com, the sensors in her Dexcom system are designed to last up to 10 days before needing replacement, and monthly costs range from $440 to $470. . Medicare usually covers the supplies she needs. But after a recent cyberattack on a health insurance claims processing company acquired by Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group in 2022, Olson can no longer get new sensors at her local Walgreens store or other locations. .
“Right now I'm in a state of panic. As a result of the recent hack, there are no pharmacies that will replenish my sensor supply because Medicare won't be able to reimburse them. The supply is low. This is a life-threatening situation for me. 'and others with type 1 diabetes,' Olson wrote Thursday morning. Regarding only paying for his supplies himself, Olson told the editorial board that he is on a fixed income with limited resources.
Fortunately, by Thursday afternoon, continued efforts by Walgreens and UnitedHealth appeared to have resolved the issue. A Walgreens district manager told Olson over the phone that a workaround had been found and he was ready to pick up his prescription at his normal copay.
Although the outcome was positive, Mr. Olson's plight deserves wider attention and deeper understanding by policymakers and the public, especially Congress, to understand how the cyberattack occurred. We also need to find ways to prevent cyber attacks. At the very least, there needs to be a high-profile public hearing.
In this digital age, every industry is vulnerable to power outages and nefarious hackers, but healthcare is especially worrisome. As Olson's case shows, a ransomware attack against a company she's never heard of can have an immediate impact on her and other patients. Such attacks can also threaten the financial health of healthcare providers, leaving them cash-strapped due to widespread claims processing delays.
The targeted UnitedHealth company is called Change Healthcare. It's best to think of it like Visa or MasterCard for the healthcare industry. Process various claims and related financial transactions. The attack on the company effectively halted the medical billing and payment process in many parts of the country.
The Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) deserves praise for warning the public early on that cyberattacks can have severe financial consequences for health care providers. “We may be rapidly approaching a fiscal cliff,” MHA CEO and president Dr Rahul Kolanne said on Thursday.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), whose involvement drew praise from the state's health care providers this week, clearly understands the urgency. “This cyber attack, apparently by foreign agents, threatens access to life-saving care and highlights the urgency of strengthening our nation's cybersecurity systems,” she said in a statement to op-eds on Friday. Ta.
“I also raised this issue directly with senior officials at the Department of Health and Human Services and ensured that they take direct and immediate action to protect the healthcare community. UnitedHealth Group We must act quickly and do everything in our power to ensure that patients continue to have access to the medicines and care they need. ”
Klobuchar's leadership is welcome. The Star Tribune Editorial Board has also asked her to lead her Congressional follow-up. She has written a book on antitrust issues. The far-reaching and detrimental effects of cyber-attacks deepen concerns about the ongoing consolidation in the healthcare sector. It's important to note that federal authorities have challenged United's $13 billion acquisition of the company.
Klobuchar's last comment about UnitedHealth is spot on. Late Thursday afternoon, UnitedHealth announced that it had made “significant progress” in mitigating the impact of cyberattacks on consumers and healthcare providers. “E-prescriptions are now fully functional and you can also submit bills and send payments starting today,” the statement said.
The company reported that the electronic payment function will be available from March 15th. “We will begin testing on March 18th, re-establish connectivity to our claims network and software, and expect to have service restored by that week,” said Andrew Whitty, chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group. (CEO) also said in a statement, “We are determined to resolve this issue as soon as possible.''
While this is commendable, the American Hospital Association and other health care providers are far from satisfied with United's support so far. “We need real solutions,” the president of the American Hospital Association said in a letter to United leadership Monday. “They sound good when announced, but when you read the fine print, they fundamentally It's not an insufficient program.”
The Star Tribune reported that in 2023, United Airlines “posted an adjusted profit of $22.38 billion on revenue of $371.6 billion.” This well-run Minnesota company has the financial resources to better help struggling providers. This crisis will pass, but what will be remembered long after is how United rose to the challenge of helping those affected by cyberattacks. There is still work to be done.
