The upcoming May 1 hearing at the House Energy and Commerce oversight subcommittee will mark the first time Witty has appeared in the House. This comes after a recent hearing held by the panel’s health subcommittee regarding the Change Healthcare hack, where no representatives from United were present.
In a joint statement released on Friday, Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and oversight subcommittee chair Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) expressed concerns over the fallout from the Change Healthcare hack. They highlighted the financial struggles faced by individuals and smaller providers in the aftermath of the cyberattack, which has put critical access for patients at risk.
Change Healthcare, a medical claims processor that plays a significant role as a clearinghouse for data between health insurers and providers, was affected by a widespread impact on the healthcare industry following an attack that occurred in February. Disruptions in operations at various clinics and hospitals caused delays in payments to providers, with Change still recovering from the attack today.
During this hearing, lawmakers expressed disappointment over United’s absence despite their acquisition of Change in 2022. Talks of a possible subpoena were raised to compel United’s presence at future hearings. Additionally, Witty is also expected to provide testimony before the Senate Finance Committee in the near future.
The cyberattack that occurred on Change Healthcare’s network resulted in significant financial losses for many individuals and small providers who rely heavily on their services to process claims and manage their finances. This has put critical access for patients at risk as clinics and hospitals struggle to keep up with their payments.
The ongoing recovery efforts of Change Healthcare have been met with concern by many stakeholders who fear that it may take too long for them to fully regain control of their systems. As such, there are growing calls for more transparency from United regarding their actions during and after the cyberattack.
As Witty prepares to make his first appearance before Congress since becoming CEO of UnitedHealth Group, he will be under intense scrutiny from lawmakers who want to know what steps he is taking to prevent future cyberattacks like this one.
In conclusion, the upcoming May 1 hearing at the House Energy and Commerce oversight subcommittee will be crucial for understanding how far along we are in our response to this cyberattack on Change Healthcare. It remains unclear what consequences will come out of these hearings but it is clear that there is work left to be done before we can fully recover from this event.