Cyber Attack on UnitedHealth Group Causes Prescription Delays Across Maryland

MARYLAND News (2/26/2024) – Pharmacies statewide in Maryland are experiencing delays and potential disruptions in prescription services following a cyber attack on UnitedHealth Group. The attack, orchestrated by nation-state-affiliated hackers, has led to the suspension of operations, affecting tens of thousands of pharmacies nationwide.

Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, has acknowledged the cybersecurity issue and promptly disconnected systems to prevent further impact. They specify that the problem is confined to Change Healthcare, assuring that all other systems within UnitedHealth Group remain operational.

Maryland pharmacies are actively addressing the situation by providing emergency prescriptions to patients for a limited period until the system is restored. Pharmacies nationwide are reporting significant issues, including delays in processing prescriptions and, in some cases, an inability to process refills.

The American Hospital Association (AHA) is advising healthcare organizations across Maryland, including those in Washington County, impacted or possibly exposed, to disconnect from the system until safety is ensured. AHA recommends using this opportunity to test the security, redundancy, and resiliency of network and data backups, ensuring they remain offline.

Authorities are actively investigating the incident, and updates will be provided as the situation develops.