According to VIVA Health, which is now investigating the February 2024 ransomware data breach at UnitedHealth Group’s Change Healthcare, which impacted healthcare organizations across the country, some 22,000 of its customers’ records were compromised. Billing and payment processing are among the electronic services VIVA and Change Healthcare have a contract to perform on its behalf. On VIVA’s behalf, Change Healthcare also prints and mails a variety of client documents.
Change Healthcare has been conducting a forensic investigation of the potentially impacted data in the months following the security incident due to the extent of the data breach, which it has stated is likely to impact a significant number of Americans. And now the company has started notifying the impacted customers. While Change Healthcare has not been able to give VIVA the precise information pertaining to each affected person, these kinds of incidents frequently target demographic data, including first and last name, address, phone number, date of birth, health plan ID number, and, in rare instances, social security number.
Millions Affected by Largest US Data Breach
In terms of safeguarding your personal data, this year has been not good. Contrary to another AT&T data breach that was made public last spring, the one that was publicized this summer affected almost all of its customers. A settlement was reached for Cash App users following data breaches, and Roku had a breach. A cyberattack at NPD was also verified last month. The UnitedHealth-owned Change Healthcare also experienced a data leak at this time. The exact number of people affected by this has not been disclosed.
Notifications of the Change Healthcare data breach began in late summer and continued into the fall, even though the intrusion occurred in February. There are steps you should do to safeguard your finances and identity whether or not you received a letter. This is all the information you require on the Change Healthcare hack.
Change Healthcare hack impact over 100 million, the largest-ever US healthcare data breach
In February of 2024, a new ransomware outbreak disrupted pharmacies nationwide. This hack, which was initially directed at Change Healthcare, a UnitedHealth Group company that handles medical providers’ financial management, compromised the information of 100 million people. Change previously confirmed that the stolen data includes government identity documents like Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and passport numbers, as well as personal information like names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, and email addresses.
However, the data breach is different depending on the individual. Diagnoses, prescription drugs, test results, imaging, care and treatment plans, and health insurance information are all included in the stolen health data. Along with financial and banking details, the attackers also took payment and claim data.
Details of data breach at Change Healthcare
Even though you may not be familiar with Change Healthcare, it’s likely that you have heard of it before. A health payment processing organization, Change Healthcare handles insurance and billing for many health systems, such as hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. Hackers got the access to Change Healthcare in February 2024 and it was connected to a Russian ransomware gang that demands a ransom. Change Healthcare stated that it started taking action to thwart the hack on February 21.
During this period, from February until the spring, there were significant interruptions in the healthcare system, as you may recall. This included issues with Medicare reimbursements and insurance approvals, including payment systems. The reason for those interruptions was that the business was attempting to halt the attack by blocking specific access points.
Many inquiries and investigations concerning how this occurred were prompted by the cyberattack and related disruptions, including inquiries from members of Congress and an HHS probe. Andrew Witty, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group, stated during a Senate Committee on Finance hearing that the company responded to the attack by paying the hackers a ransom of $22 million.
Check to See if You Are Affected
Following Change Healthcare’s announcement of the breach earlier this year, VIVA moved quickly to protect client information while the forensic investigation was underway. VIVA clients have been informed of the ransomware breach by Change Healthcare, and they are still being alerted. Change Healthcare will send out notice letters outlining the data breach, the kinds of data that may have been compromised, and methods for people to take precautions, such as how to sign up for a free two-year identity protection and credit monitoring program. Further VIVA consumers involved in the breach may be found as part of Change Healthcare’s ongoing investigation into the incident. Change Healthcare will also send a notice letter to such clients if that is the case.
Change Healthcare has begun to write letters to those whose data was affected by this breach, as previously announced. In order to identify people, the business said it started mailing written letters on July 29 and is still sending out alerts. Even if you did not receive a letter, there is a possibility that you were included in the data breach because the corporation also states that it might not have accurate mailing addresses for all affected persons.
What to do now?
As with any data breach incident, it is advised that those affected stay alert and routinely check your bank and credit card statements, your tax returns and credit reports, the explanation of your health plan’s benefits statements, and statements from your healthcare providers for any unusual activity. If you see any medical services that you did not receive on an explanation of benefits statement, please get in touch with your physician or health plan. Please call your financial company, credit card company, or appropriate agency right once if you see any questionable activity on your tax returns, bank statements, or credit card bills.
Helpline
A dedicated call center has been set up by Change Healthcare to provide further information and resources, such as help signing up for two years of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection. 1-866-262-5342 is the toll-free call center number, and it is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST. Consumers seeking additional information can go visit www.changecybersupport.com.
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