A novel therapy developed by Vaxxinity, codenamed UB-312, is showing promise in early clinical trials for treating Parkinson’s disease by targeting and reducing toxic clumps of alpha-synuclein protein in cerebrospinal fluid, a key factor believed to drive the disease's progression. This groundbreaking approach marks a significant advancement in the potential treatment and prevention of Parkinson's, offering hope for disease-modifying treatment. Early trial results suggest that UB-312 can lower levels of harmful protein aggregates, which may lead to improved motor function in patients. While the therapy is still under investigation and requires further testing to confirm its safety and efficacy, it represents a hopeful development for the nearly one million Americans currently diagnosed with Parkinson’s and those who will be diagnosed in the future.

Healthcare pros show interest in Apple's Vision Pro — survey

Mar 12, 2024Computerworld

A Tebra survey reveals a high interest among U.S. healthcare professionals in adopting Apple’s Vision Pro for medical applications, signaling the potential for transformative changes in healthcare delivery. The survey, which involved 130 healthcare professionals and 1,003 Americans, highlights the readiness of the healthcare industry to embrace spatial computing technologies for a variety of uses, including remote care, surgical planning, and medical training. The potential of these technologies to combine virtual and real worlds, enhance efficiency in medicine, and address the global shortage of medical professionals has been underscored, while also emphasizing Apple's commitment to privacy. Interest among healthcare practitioners and patients alike points towards a positive reception of technology-driven healthcare solutions, further supported by ongoing research and development in health-focused applications for visionOS. Survey: https://www.tebra.com/theintake/medical-deep-dives/medical-news/survey-americans-perceptions-of-apple-vision-pro-and-neuralink-in-healthcare

Cyberattack Paralyzes the Largest U.S. Health Care Payment System

Mar 11, 2024New York Times

Medical care providers across the United States, ranging from urgent care chains to primary care physicians, are facing significant financial difficulties following a cyberattack that disrupted the country's largest medical billing and payment system, operated by Change Healthcare, a unit of UnitedHealth Group. This attack, which occurred two weeks ago, has left hundreds of providers unable to process insurance approvals and payments for services, leading to a cash squeeze that threatens their operations. In response, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced measures to alleviate financial pressures, including allowing Medicare reimbursements and urging health insurers to relax prior authorization rules. Despite these efforts, it is unclear whether these measures will fully bridge the operational and financial gaps caused by the still-offline services of Change Healthcare, a critical digital intermediary in the healthcare system.

Salesforce announces new AI tools for doctors

Mar 9, 2024CNBC

Salesforce introduced AI tools for healthcare: Einstein Copilot and Assessment Generation to ease administrative tasks and combat physician burnout. These tools automate appointment setting, patient data summarization, and digital health assessments, integrating medical data from various sources. Aimed at reducing clerical burden, these solutions are part of Salesforce's broader strategy to streamline healthcare data management, with availability set for summer and year-end.

Ransomware gang claims to have made $3.4 million after attacking children’s hospital

Mar 9, 2024The Record

A ransomware gang, identified as Rhysida, has claimed to have successfully sold data stolen from Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, initially listed for a ransom of $3.4 million or 60 bitcoins on the dark web. The cyberattack, which occurred last month, significantly disrupted the hospital's computer networks and clinical operations, forcing a temporary reliance on manual systems. Despite these challenges, Lurie Children's committed to continuing patient care, albeit with some cancellations of appointments and elective surgeries. The hospital is now in the process of gradually restoring its vital systems, including its electronic health records and phone systems, while cooperating with law enforcement and cyber experts to investigate the breach. This incident is part of a worrying trend of increasing cyber attacks targeting the healthcare sector, with another organization, Change Healthcare, also currently experiencing costly disruptions.

BlackCat Ransomware Group Implodes After Apparent $22M Payment by Change Healthcare

Mar 7, 2024KrebsonSecurity

Change Healthcare, disoriented by BlackCat's cyberattack, allegedly pays $22m ransom, yet data remains unsecured. Affiliate Notchy claims withholding of ransom share before BlackCat halts operations. Other vulnerable affiliates may leak stolen data. Cited as "exit scam," BlackCat's network 'seizure notice' likely faked. Cybersecurity firm warns crime outfits can't be trusted, alluding to BlackCat's closure following LockBit's inevitable demise.

Cyberattack on UnitedHealth still impacting prescription access: "These are threats to life"

Mar 5, 2024CBS News

Cyberattack impacts Change Healthcare, disrupting nationwide healthcare operations; hospitals, pharmacies can't get paid; patients face prescription difficulties. Attack discovered on Feb. 21, leading to system disconnections. Change Healthcare handles 15 billion transactions annually, affecting one in three U.S. patient records. Russian ransomware group Blackcat supposedly stole more than six terabytes of sensitive data. Investigations ongoing with no indication other UnitedHealth Group subsidiaries affected. Workarounds established but ongoing system issues create billing problems, notably impacting smaller hospitals. Systems return to normalcy unknown. FBI investigating.

Hackers Behind the Change Healthcare Ransomware Attack Just Received a $22 Million Payment

Mar 5, 2024Wired

Ransomware attack on medical firm Change Healthcare suspected to have resulted in a $22 million Bitcoin payment to the hacker group 'AlphV' or 'BlackCat'. Claims from an alleged associate suggest the group might have cheated on profit-sharing. The attack disrupted pharmacies and delayed prescription deliveries nationwide, and highlights the profit potential of targeting healthcare services.

Cyberattack on insurance giant disrupting business for doctors, therapists

Mar 4, 2024CNN

US healthcare professionals suffer business disruption, revenue loss due to week-long cyberattack on UnitedHealth's Change Healthcare. Outage forces manual billing, burdens hospitals, pharmacies. Health insurers sever connections to Change Healthcare as caution; health care providers use alternative clearinghouses for insurance submissions. Patients struggle with medication access; while cyberattack impacts insurance processing, causing systemic attack on healthcare sector. Attack traced to ransomware gang ALPHV, targeting US universities, healthcare providers, hotels.

Not just hospitals, pharmacies: Change Healthcare hack hits physician practices hard

Mar 4, 2024Beckers Hospital Review

Change Healthcare hack disrupts hospitals, pharmacies, and physician practices. Medical groups face billing, cash flow issues, risking closure of smaller practices. Ransomware gang behind attack, affecting claims, payments, authorizations, insurance checks, prescription processing. Change plans interim payment portal. AMA advises direct payer contact, workaround solutions.

Hospitals Made Mistakes During The Pandemic. It’s Still Urgent Today

Mar 1, 2024Forbes

Covid-19 pandemic revealed hospitals' error-driven patient harm despite heroic efforts. Rise in preventable hospital-acquired infections proved hospitals' failure in handling public health crises and infection prevention. Consequently, increased federal interest in addressing patient safety rose, with new CMS standards and White House calls for better accountability, policy oversight, and technology utilization. Post-pandically, hospitals have begun addressing these issues, with decreasing infection rates and implementing AI innovation. Cloud migration challenges and solutions identified by Nutanix include refactoring, AI integration, vendor lock-in, security, skill shortages, and lack of support. Companies can move applications to the cloud without re-writing them, utilize AI to modernize, avoid vendor lock-in by using dual vendor strategy, choose their data location for maximum security, operate with a singular team, and utilize Nutanix's good support for their Cloud Platform.

Ransomware gang claims they stole 6TB of Change Healthcare data

Mar 1, 2024BleepingComputer

BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware gang claims responsibility for a cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group (UHG) subsidiary, Optum, causing outage of Change Healthcare platform used by over 70,000 US pharmacies. They allegedly stole 6TB of sensitive data from the platform's network, relating to thousands of healthcare providers, insurance firms, and pharmacies, among others. The stolen data allegedly includes medical, insurance, dental records, payments, claims, patient's personally identifiable information (PII), and active US military/navy personnel PII. UnitedHealth Group systems were not affected and new electronic claim procedures have been implemented. They denied using a ScreenConnect auth bypass flaw, contradicting earlier sources. US agencies earlier warned that BlackCat primarily targets the US healthcare sector.

Man in remission from blood cancer and HIV after remarkable treatment

Mar 1, 2024The Guardian

California man, Paul Edmonds, is in remission from both HIV and acute myelogenous leukemia after a stem cell transplant. The fifth person known globally to achieve this, the 68-yr old is also the oldest and has lived with HIV the longest (31 years). Edmonds received stem cells with a rare mutation that confers HIV resistance; it replaced his with the donor's cells. Doctors consider him cured of leukemia and possibly HIV if he remains off antiretroviral therapy for another two years.

BlackCat Pounces on Health Sector After Federal Takedown

Feb 29, 2024BankInfoSecurity

BlackCat ransomware group, aka Alphv, targeted US healthcare, affecting Medicare, CVS Caremark, MetLife. Ransomware service infiltrated by FBI, developed tool to decrypt affected systems. Failed federal shutdown led to targeting healthcare institutions. BlackCat claimed responsibility for significant healthcare data breach impacting various Change Healthcare clients. FBI, CISA, HHS issued warnings, suggesting mitigation actions. Extensive ransomware and data extortion operations noted.

Vive2024 Insight: Top Priorities For Healthcare CIOs

Feb 28, 2024Forbes

Vive2024 healthcare CIOs prioritize operational and financial efficiencies; focusing on tangible, immediate improvements despite promising AI technology. Discussion themes: increased digital health investments despite challenging vendor market; system disruption risk via Change Healthcare's cyber attack; continued Enterprise System implementation, particularly EMR/ERP with peer-recommended providers. Balancing ongoing operational efficiency and pursuit of transformative digital health solutions remains key.

Tools for Better Data Interoperability Are Here — But Providers Aren’t Adopting Them

Feb 28, 2024MedCity News

Healthcare's struggle with disconnected data systems and lack of interoperability leads to errors and delays. Despite tools for digital integration, most referrals still happen via fax, showing poor tool adoption due to usability issues. Emory Healthcare is streamlining digital referrals while Micky Tripathi from the ONC emphasizes the need for encouraging use of electronic referral tools.

Dale Gold, MD on Spatial Computing and Epic EHR

Feb 28, 2024LinkedIn

Dale Gold, a physician informatics specialist, discusses the potential of using Epic's EHR in a mixed-reality environment, Epic Spatial Computing Concept app, on the Apple Vision Pro. The app promises charting, secure chat, and In Basket workflows using gestures, voice, and eye tracking. Gold aims to test this technology to judge its efficiency and practicality in healthcare. He highlights that the app is not yet production-ready and discusses concerns about its potential to become a novelty that increases costs. Gold encourages feedback on the app and its potential in transforming EHR in healthcare.

Epic's Antitrust Paradox: Who Should Control The Levers Of Healthcare Innovation?

Feb 27, 2024Forbes

Despite Epic's 36% market share in U.S. hospitals not satisfying monopoly definitions, concerns rise about its dominant position and stifling healthcare innovation impact. Epic attracts top tech talent, offering long-term, game-changing research and development investments, ensuring consumer trust, predictability, and security. Critics argue its significant control over health system and academic medical center markets hinders competition, potentially negatively affecting healthcare expenditure. Epic allegedly employs contracts restricting third-party developers and employees to maintain its intellectual property. Seven areas of conduct are noted for scrutiny, including excessive non-compete clauses, unsustainable fee structures, and bundling practices.

Change Healthcare / Optum Network Connectivity and Additional Recommendations

Feb 26, 2024H-ISAC

Healthcare company, Change Healthcare experienced cyber issue, isolated systems. Health-ISAC shares threat bulletin, maintaining connections with UnitedHealth Group, Optum, UnitedHealthcare and indicating IOCs. Information suggests incident contained by UHG, advises continuation of severed connections to Change Healthcare. RedSense identifies exploitation by ConnectWise ScreenConnect. IOCs for compromise shared alongside suggested examination procedures. ConnectWise alert highlights bypass vulnerability in ScreenConnect servers, recommends immediate patch action. Mitigation practices suggest software update.

Cyberattack on Change Healthcare was an exploit of the ConnectWise flaw

Feb 26, 2024SC Magazine

Security flaws in ConnectWise's ScreenConnect app were used in a LockBit malware attack, causing slowdowns at UnitedHealth's Change Healthcare pharmacies. ConnectWise denies a direct connection between the incident and vulnerability. The attack, linked to a suspected nation-state, could put patient data at risk and cause widespread operational disruptions. The attack highlights the importance of cybersecurity audits in healthcare mergers and acquisitions.

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