Change Healthcare, a technology company part of UnitedHealth Group's Optum, expects to have its key system functionalities restored by mid-March following a "cybersecurity incident" on Feb. 21 that obstructed its healthcare connectivity and operations nationwide.
Here are six updates:
1. The company's electronic payment platform will be available for connection starting March 15. Its medical claims network and software is expected to begin testing and connectivity reestablishment on March 18, and the company will work to restore that service throughout the week. UnitedHealth Group urged its provider and payer clients to continue using the applicable workarounds established as it restores the systems.
2. Change Healthcare's pharmacy electronic prescribing became fully functional with claim submission and payment transmission on March 7. "We have taken action to make sure patients can access their medicines in the meantime, including Optum Rx pharmacies sending members their medications based on the date needed," a March 7 UnitedHealth Group news release said.
3. UnitedHealthcare will continue providing additional funding solutions to its provider partners after Optum launched a temporary funding assistance program on March 1 to supply short-term cash flow for providers who received payer payments processed by Change Healthcare. "This applies to medical, dental and vision providers and will involve advancing funds each week representing the difference between their historical payment levels and the payment levels post attack," the release said. "Advances will not need to be repaid until claims flows have fully resumed. Providers must complete a one-time registration to access funding."
4. Beyond the UnitedHealthcare funding solutions, Optum is expanding its funding program to providers who have attempted to use all available connection options and to those "who work with a payer who has opted not to advance funds to providers during the period when Change Healthcare systems remain down."
5. Prior authorizations will be temporarily suspended until March 31 for most Medicare Advantage plans and dual special needs plans for outpatient services except cosmetic procedures, Part B step therapies and durable medical equipment. Medicare Part D drug formulary exception review processes are also temporarily suspended until March 31.
6. "We are committed to providing relief for people affected by this malicious attack on the U.S. health system," Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, said in the release. "All of us at UnitedHealth Group feel a deep sense of responsibility for recovery and are working tirelessly to ensure that providers can care for their patients and run their practices, and that patients can get their medications. We're determined to make this right as fast as possible."