Federal Agencies Offer Support in Wake of Change Healthcare Cyberattack as Providers Continue to Struggle with Impact

April 1, 2024 – Since the Change Healthcare Cyberattack on February 21st, physician practices, hospitals, and pharmacies continue to experience interruptions in benefits verification, claims submission, distribution of payments, utilization management functions, and other revenue cycle management capabilities.

After requests from several hospital and medical organizations, as well as pressure from Members of Congress, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released several communications in attempts to provide support and to encourage commercial insurance plans to provide emergency funding mechanisms to health care providers as cash flow continues to be restricted for many.

For HRS members who would like more information, the following is a list of related communications from HHS and its agencies:

• HHS Press Release (March 5, 2024): HHS Statement Regarding the Cyberattack on Change Healthcare
• CMS Memo to MA, PD, and MCO Plans (March 6, 2024): Addressing Impacts Related to the Cyberattack on Change Healthcare
• HHS Press Release (March 10, 2024): Letter to Health Care Leaders on Cyberattack on Change Healthcare
• CMS Press Release (March 12, 2024): CMS Statement Following Health Care Payer and Provider Roundtable on the Cyberattack on Change Healthcare
• HHS Press Release (March 12, 2024): Readout of Biden-Harris Administration Convening with Health Care Community Concerning Cyberattack on Change Healthcare
• Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) Informational Bulletin:Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Incident – CMS Response and State Flexibilities

In addition, CMS has released information on the availability of support for affected organizations via the Medicare and Accelerated and Advance Payments program. For more information, please refer to the CMS fact sheet and the CMS frequently asked questions (FAQs) document.