By AJ Vicens
(Reuters) – Healthcare organizations may be required to bolster their cybersecurity, to better prevent sensitive information from being leaked by cyberattacks like the ones that hit Ascension and UnitedHealth, a senior White House official said Friday.
Anne Neuberger, the U.S. deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology, told reporters that proposed requirements are necessary in light of the massive number of Americans whose data has been affected by large breaches of healthcare information. The proposals include encrypting data so it cannot be accessed, even if leaked, and requiring compliance checks to ensure networks meet cybersecurity rules.
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The healthcare information of more than 167 million people was affected in 2023 as a result of cybersecurity incidents, she said.
The proposed rule from the Department of Health and Human Services would update standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and would cost an estimated $9 billion in the first year, and $6 billion in years two through five, Neuberger said.
Large healthcare breaches caused by hacking and ransomware have increased by 89% and 102%, respectively, since 2019, she said.
“In this job, one of the most concerning and really troubling things we deal with is hacking of hospitals, hacking of healthcare data,” Neuberger said.
Hospitals have been forced to operate manually and Americans’ sensitive healthcare data, mental health information and other information are “being leaked on the dark web with the opportunity to blackmail individuals,” Neuberger said.
The Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Additional reporting by Raphael Satter in Washington; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
