As the largest health insurer in the country, UnitedHealthcare may have interacted with you or your data even if they are not your provider. In addition to being an insurer, UnitedHealth Group is also the largest employer of physicians and owns pharmacies and home health agencies. The company’s subsidiary, Change Healthcare, processes over 40% of medical claims in the US, serving as a crucial “information superhighway” in the healthcare industry.
In February, Change Healthcare suffered a massive cyberattack that disrupted health payments and compromised patient information. This breach caused widespread chaos and affected healthcare providers nationwide, particularly those in rural areas. The full extent of the damage is still unknown, and efforts to fully resolve the issue are ongoing.
The cyberattack led Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, to testify before Congress for the first time in over 15 years. During hearings with House and Senate committees, Witty faced tough questions about security vulnerabilities in the system and concerns about UnitedHealth Group’s size and influence in the healthcare industry. These events sparked broader discussions about healthcare operations and regulation in the US.
This report was produced by Elana Gordon, edited by Lucy Perkins, mixed by Sean Carter, with additional contributions from Stephen Smith. To stay updated on news and developments subscribe to The Washington Post for the latest updates.
