Sen. Wyden Calls for Cybersecurity Measures in Healthcare Amidst Rising Prescription Drug Prices and Rural Hospital Struggles

In a recent conversation with AHA members, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon expressed his concern about the cyberattack on Change Healthcare. He believes that this breach put patients’ personal data at risk and emphasized that the health care sector is a prime target for criminals and foreign adversaries like China and Russia. With middlemen companies controlling core functions in the health care system, they can dictate contract terms to health providers, leading to systemic cybersecurity risks.

Sen. Wyden also discussed the need to support rural hospitals to ensure access to care in those communities. He emphasized the importance of addressing the challenges facing the health care system, including cracking down on pharmacy benefit managers and their actions that are contributing to the rising cost of prescription drugs. This highlights the complexity of the issues facing the healthcare sector and the need for effective solutions to protect patients and improve access to care.