Cyberattack disrupts systems, services used by several Nebraska hospitals

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Systems used by a majority of Nebraska hospitals are being impacted by a cyberattack, officials said Wednesday.

The Nebraska Hospital Association said Change Healthcare, a health technology company, was hit with a cyberattack on Feb. 21.

The attack disrupted a number of its systems, including financial and clinical authorization services.

“The cyberattack on Change Healthcare is impacting the operations of most Nebraska hospitals,” said Jeremy Nordquist, the association’s president, in a press release. “Our hospitals are doing their best to manage through these challenges as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Hospital procedures impacted, include insurance verification for inpatient stays, precise cost estimates and patient billing.

“Due to this incident, Nebraskans may experience longer wait times regarding authorizations for procedures, as well as delays in resolution of claims,” Nordquist said. “Our hospitals ask Nebraskans to be understanding as we work through these challenges.”

The American Hospital Association has been in contact with the FBI and several other federal agencies.

Health care officials have also asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help hospitals minimize the fallout from the cyberattack.

The frequency of ransomware attacks targeted at hospitals and health systems has “increased significantly” in the last two years, the Nebraska Hospital Association said.