In a statement submitted to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for a hearing today on health care cybersecurity and patient privacy, the AHA said the highest cyber risk for patient data is often through third-party service and software providers. The AHA encouraged Congress to use federal agencies and resources to protect hospitals and health systems, and in turn the patients they serve, by combating international cyber threats and supporting funding for cybersecurity training and workforce, especially in rural areas.  

“Hospitals and health systems have invested billions of dollars and taken many steps to protect patients and defend their networks from cyberattacks that can disrupt patient care and erode privacy by the loss of personal health care data,” AHA said in its statement. “Any cyberattack on the health care sector that disrupts or delays patient care creates a risk to patient safety and crosses the line from an economic crime to a threat-of-life crime. These attacks should be aggressively pursued and prosecuted by the federal government.”  

The AHA also recommended reducing administrative burdens, like making the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 cybersecurity requirements voluntary and strengthening the HIPAA preemption.  

“Rural hospitals are struggling under the crushing weight of these existing policies and thus support efforts to reduce and streamline regulatory burdens,” said hearing witness Linda Stevenson, chief information officer of Fisher-Titus Medical Center, a rural hospital in Ohio. In written testimony, she said, “We must shift away from punitive approaches that penalize providers who are targeted by malicious actors. These only worsen the burden and divert resources away from patient care. Instead, we need supportive policies that empower healthcare providers to strengthen their cyber defenses.” 

Related News Articles

Headline
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, National Security Agency, FBI and international agencies Aug. 13…
Headline
The Department of Justice Aug. 11 announced a series of actions taken against the BlackSuit ransomware group, also known as “Royal,” including the disruption…
Headline
The FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and international agencies July 29 released a joint advisory on recent tactics by the Scattered…
Headline
Microsoft July 22 released an update on the ongoing cyberattacks to SharePoint servers used within organizations, attributing the incidents to China-based…
Headline
The FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Health and Human Services, and Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center…
Headline
Microsoft July 19 issued an alert about active attacks from vulnerabilities targeting SharePoint servers used within organizations. The incidents have not…