The Optum incident exemplifies the risks of consolidating healthcare systems, where a cyberattack paralyzed medical billing and authorization services, resulting in patients experiencing delays in medical procedures and lack of access to prescription medications. Medical service providers could not bill insurance, leading to financial strain, missed salary payments, and some cases of severe financial difficulties. With a single point of failure due to consolidated services, a large portion of health systems and patient care became vulnerable to cyber threats.
"id": "opt001102824",
"linkid": "optum",
"type": "Ransomware",
"date": "7/2024",
"severity": "100",
"impact": "5",
"explanation": "Attack threatening the organization’s existence"