Nebraska hospitals have been affected by a recent cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a major healthcare technology company in the U.S., confirmed by the Nebraska Hospital Association. The attack, which occurred on Feb. 21, has disrupted operations at various hospitals in Nebraska that rely on Change Healthcare for financial and clinical authorization services.

President Jeremy Nordquist of the Nebraska Hospital Association states that the cyberattack has resulted in longer wait times for authorizations of procedures and delays in resolving claims for Nebraskans. The American Hospital Association is collaborating with governmental agencies like the FBI, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in response to the incident.

The frequency and complexity of ransomware attacks on hospitals and health systems have notably increased over the past two years. The AHA and NHA are calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide immediate federal regulatory flexibility and financial support to help hospitals and health systems mitigate the impact of the cyberattack on Change Healthcare as it continues to disrupt operations.

Cybersecurity threats like ransomware attacks are on the rise, with educational institutions also facing heightened risks. Awareness and preventative measures are crucial in safeguarding critical systems against such malicious cyber incidents.