US hospitals face collapse as cyberattack on UnitedHealth cuts revenue streams

The US government has announced an investigation into one of America’s leading health insurers, UnitedHealth, after a ransomware hack of its subsidiary Change Healthcare last month left thousands of doctors and hospitals with little or no revenue.

“Given the unprecedented magnitude of this attack, and in the best interest of patients and health care providers, the Office for Civil Rights is initiating an investigation into this incident,” the sub-agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement.

The 21 February attack, for which a hacking group called Blackcat has claimed responsibility, is being described by both government and industry as the biggest ever. Change Healthcare’s billing software is used for around half the medical claims processed in the US and is relied on by about 900 000 doctors, 33 000 pharmacies, 5500 hospitals, and 600 laboratories. The service has …