In a recent statement, ratings agency Fitch announced that it does not anticipate any credit impact on not-for-profit hospitals in the United States following the cyberattack at UnitedHealth's tech unit, Change Healthcare. The attack caused disruption to pharmacies across the country, but Fitch reassured that it does not foresee any negative rating implications tied to the hack.

Fitch's assessment is based on the condition that the affected care providers are able to restore normal operations in the near term and maintain a sufficient cash cushion. The agency highlights that these factors will play a crucial role in mitigating any potential credit risks arising from the cyberattack.

The cyberattack, which occurred at Change Healthcare, a technology subsidiary of UnitedHealth, led to disruptions in pharmacy services throughout the United States. However, Fitch emphasizes that as long as the impacted hospitals can promptly return to their regular operations and have enough financial reserves to navigate any short-term challenges, their credit profiles should remain unaffected.

Fitch's positive credit outlook considers the resilience and ability of the healthcare providers to overcome the cyberattack and continue delivering crucial services to patients. By maintaining adequate cash reserves, hospitals can mitigate the financial strains arising from such unexpected disruptions in their operations.

Further monitoring of these hospitals' financials will be necessary to assess any potential long-term implications of the cyberattack. However, Fitch's initial assessment provides reassurance that there should be no immediate credit impact for the not-for-profit hospitals in the U.S. as a result of this incident.

Overall, Fitch's statement serves to reassure stakeholders that, though significant, the cyberattack at Change Healthcare is not expected to have a lasting negative impact on the creditworthiness of non-profit hospitals in the United States. As long as these institutions can swiftly recover and maintain financial stability, the effects of the cyberattack should be manageable.

It is advised that healthcare providers affected by the cyberattack prioritize their efforts towards restoring normal operations and ensuring adequate financial reserves to safeguard against potential future disruptions.