HHS Releases Health Plan Resource Guide for Hospitals, Providers Impacted by Cyberattack

The Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) March 25 released a national resource guide of health plan contact information in an effort to support hospitals and providers impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack. The agencies state in a letter introducing the guide that many providers continue to face significant disruptions as a result of the cyberattack. “We also continue to hear from providers that you have sometimes had difficulty getting answers from healthcare plans about the availability of prospective payments or the flexibilities you may need while the Change Healthcare platform is unavailable,” HHS, ASPR and CMS stated. In addition, the agency leaders encouraged hospitals and health systems to review the voluntary cybersecurity performance goals released earlier this year. 

RESOURCES 

See the AHA Change Healthcare cyberattack update webpage for the latest information on the cyberattack. Resources include:

• CMS announcement on accelerated and advance payments to hospitals, physicians and others impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack.
• CMS frequently asked questions for accelerated and advance payments.
• CMS informational bulletin on actions states can take to provide relief to Medicaid providers affected by the cyberattack. 

FURTHER QUESTIONS

 If you have further questions, please contact Molly Smith, AHA group vice president of policy, at mollysmith@aha.org.