In February 2024, the Change Healthcare cyberattack exposed a weakness the healthcare industry could no longer ignore. When one of the nation’s largest clearinghouses went down, the disruption extended far beyond a single organization. Providers, hospitals, pharmacies, and health plans across the country were thrust into operational uncertainty. Claims processing stalled, payments were delayed or in some cases stopped entirely, organizations were forced to find ways to stay afloat, and patient care was severely impacted. Manual processes replaced automated workflows, staff were stretched thin, and revenue cycles were thrown into disruption. Federal agencies stepped in with emergency measures to stabilize operations and protect provider cash flow.
What happened was not just a cybersecurity failure, it was an infrastructure failure.