AMA Response to UnitedHealth Group Update on Change Healthcare Cyberattack

The following statement was issued by the American Medical Association (AMA) on behalf of [Jesse%20M.%20Ehrenfield,%20MD,%20MPh]Jesse M. Ehrenfield, MD, MPh, President of AMA.

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March 8, 2024 — The following statement was issued by the American Medical Association (AMA) on behalf of Jesse M. Ehrenfield, MD, MPh, President of AMA.

“The March 18 timeline for testing Change Healthcare claims systems means significant financial disruption on physician practices will extend past 26 days before there is the possibility of establishing reliable network connections. The prospect of a month or more without a restored Change Healthcare claims system emphasizes the critical need for economic assistance to physicians, including advancing funds to financially stressed medical practices.

“The AMA agrees with UnitedHealth’s call for all payers to advance funds to physicians as the most effective way to preserve medical practice viability during the financial disruption, especially for practices that have been unable to establish workarounds to bridge the claims flow gap until the Change Healthcare network is reestablished.

“While providing needed information on timelines and new financial measures is helpful, UnitedHealth Group has more work to do to address physician concerns. Full transparency and security assurances will be critical before connections are reestablished with the Change Healthcare network.”

For more information: www.ama-assn.org