Feds Take Action to Assist Providers Impacted by Change Healthcare Cyberattack

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced actions to support healthcare providers impacted by a February cyberattack on Change Healthcare. The government’s action is to ensure patient care is minimally disrupted by the attack.

Many provider groups stressed cash flow concerns caused by the inability to submit claims and receive payments and requested accelerated payments similar to those issued during the COVID-19 pandemic be made available to those most impacted.

To assist providers who need to change clearinghouses, HHS has asked Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to expedite new electronic data interchange enrollment and strongly encourages other payers, including state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program agencies, do the same. In addition, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will issue guidance to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans urging them to remove or relax prior authorization and timely filing requirements during the system outages. CMS also encourages MA plans to offer advance funding to providers. Finally, CMS has instructed MACs to prepare to accept paper claims from providers who are unable to submit electronic claims.

UnitedHealth Group is maintaining a website to update impacted providers on its response to the attack.

For questions or to report specific issues your practices are facing as a result of the Change Healthcare cyberattack, contact Katie Keysor, American College of Radiology® Senior Director of Economic Policy.