Hospitals and pharmacies in the Capital Region, NY and across the United States are facing challenges following a recent cyberattack that targeted UnitedHealth's insurance processing business, Change Healthcare. The breach has resulted in system outages, preventing tens of thousands of pharmacies from processing prescriptions nationwide.

Assemblyman John McDonald, who also owns Marra's Pharmacy in Cohoes, expressed concerns about the long-term impacts of the cyberattack, emphasizing the potential for delays in processing medical claims and cash flow issues for larger healthcare systems.

UnitedHealth has confirmed that the cyberattack, believed to be orchestrated by a "suspected nation-state," was discovered recently and efforts are currently underway to restore their systems. The New York State Department of Health, under the direction of Governor Hochul, is collaborating closely with various healthcare entities to ensure continuity of care for all New Yorkers in light of the attack.

McDonald emphasized the need for heightened cybersecurity measures in the healthcare industry, citing a recent trend of increasing cyberattacks on healthcare facilities in New York. In response to these threats, Governor Hochul has proposed cybersecurity regulations for hospitals and allocated $500 million in the state budget to assist healthcare facilities in upgrading their technology systems.