WASHINGTON, D.C. – “Totally unprepared,” that’s how some cyber security experts describe the U.S. healthcare industry following a series of major cyber attacks.
Now, lawmakers want answers, questioning why this sector of critical infrastructure doesn’t have stronger security measures.
This problem drew attention in February when a cyber attack shut down systems nationwide at Change Healthcare. Now, it’s a priority, after another major attack just weeks ago on healthcare giant Ascension.
“We owe it to American patients and to our front-line healthcare providers, from health systems to clinicians and community pharmacies, to ensure that this does not and cannot happen again,” said Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) at a recent hearing.
Digital assaults against the healthcare sector have skyrocketed over the last five years. The Health and Human Services Department reported a 256 percent increase in large information breaches.
Cyber security consultant Carter Groome of First Health Advisory says the industry is playing catch-up just to meet basic standards.
“Broadly the healthcare sector is just not ready, and it’s only because we haven’t been trained over the past 15 or 20 years like the financial sector has, to protect our systems,” Groome told CBN News.
Hackers in the Change Healthcare attack, for example,
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