AHA presents at health care cybersecurity hearing

TLDR:

Key Points:

• AHA testified before a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing on health care cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
• They emphasized the need for a strong offensive cyber strategy to combat cybercrime in the health care sector.

In a recent hearing, the American Hospital Association (AHA) testified before a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health regarding health care cybersecurity vulnerabilities. John Riggi, AHA’s national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, emphasized the need for a strong offensive cyber strategy to combat cybercrime in the health care sector. Riggi highlighted the impact of cyberattacks on patient safety and called for federal agencies to protect hospitals and health systems from such threats.

Riggi urged Congress to address outstanding issues resulting from recent cyberattacks on health care organizations, such as reconnecting providers to services, processing claims, and accessing financial support to mitigate costs. Other speakers at the hearing included representatives from the Healthcare Sector Coordinating Council, CrowdStrike, and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. The discussion shed light on the critical importance of cybersecurity in protecting patient data and ensuring the continuity of care in the health care sector.