The repercussions of Change Healthcare’s breach remain undisclosed by UnitedHealth, yet the aftermath of the cyberattack has sent shockwaves throughout the U.S. healthcare system.
CVS Health revealed to CNBC on Saturday that certain business operations suffered from the disruption. While prescriptions can still be filled, the company admitted to difficulties in processing insurance claims in certain instances.
CVS Health clarified in its statement that there’s “no indication” of its systems being compromised.
Similarly, Walgreens informed CNBC on Monday that its pharmacy operations and the majority of prescriptions remained unaffected by the breach at Change Healthcare. However, the company acknowledged having procedures in place to handle the “small percentage” of prescriptions encountering issues.
For individuals like Cary Brazeman, navigating through the disruption proved to be a frustrating ordeal.
Attempting to collect a prescription from a Vons pharmacy in Palm Springs on Saturday, Brazeman found himself at a loss. Despite his dermatologist’s visit the day before, the pharmacy claimed not to have received the necessary information from his doctor. Even if they had, they couldn’t process his insurance.
Expressing his frustration in an interview with CNBC, Brazeman recounted his experience: “I’m like, ‘Okay, what am I supposed to do now?’ and they’re like, ’We don’t know.”
By Monday, Brazeman observed some progress as the pharmacy implemented a workaround to communicate with certain insurance companies. However, the issue persisted for others. He plans to revisit his doctor on Tuesday to secure a paper copy of his prescription, hoping for a smoother process with insurance.
While initially preoccupied with the logistics of obtaining his medication, Brazeman admitted his recent concern over the potential exposure of personal information due to the breach. Nevertheless, his immediate priority remains ensuring access to medication for those in need, particularly those with more severe conditions.
“I’m mobile, so I can make these rounds if necessary, and I can pay cash if necessary, but there’s a lot of people who cannot,” he emphasized.
