Largest US Health Care Payment Processor , Still Reeling From Ransomware Attack.<br />On Feb. 21, UnitedHealth Group announced that its company, Change Healthcare, had been hit with ransomware called Alphv, NBC News reports. .<br />Alphv, which is said to have been created by cybercriminals who speak Russian, was also used in the attack on MGM Resorts last year.<br />Alphv, which is said to have been created by cybercriminals who speak Russian, was also used in the attack on MGM Resorts last year.<br />Though in that instance, the ransomware was said <br />to be installed by English-speaking hackers.<br />On Feb. 29, American Hospital Association CEO Rick Pollack called the newest attack <br />"the most serious incident of its kind leveled against a U.S. health care organization.".<br />Nine days into the attack on Change <br />Healthcare, a health care technology <br />company that is part of Optum and <br />owned by UnitedHealth Group, effects <br />are continuing to be felt throughout <br />the entire health care system, American Hospital Association CEO Rick Pollack, via statement.<br />Health care providers rely on Change Healthcare's program to manage payments and insurance claims, NBC News reports. .<br />Most of the company's systems have been taken offline to isolate the attack. .<br />The outage has caused issues with filling prescriptions and has prevented insurance companies from reimbursing providers, doctors say. .<br />According to UnitedHealth Group, <br />thousands of pharmacies are currently utilizing "offline processing workarounds.".<br />Change Health is working with <br />cybersecurity companies Mandiant <br />and Palo Alto to restore its systems.<br />The company handles a third of all <br />U.S. patient records and processes 15 billion transactions every year, NBC News reports.
