Recently, Change Healthcare reported that it was the target of a massive cyberattack. In response, Change Healthcare disconnected its systems to limit the impact of the incident. However, by doing so, the company sent many pharmacies into a tailspin. As a result, patients of CVS and other major pharmacies have reported that they are unable to fill their prescriptions on time.

If you are a customer of CVS Pharmacy or another pharmacy that was impacted by the Change Healthcare incident, it is important to understand your rights. Healthcare providers, pharmacies and the technology companies that provide support to them have a duty to ensure that patients can get their medications on time. Even though the Change Healthcare cyberattack wasn’t caused by the company, it’s possible that it could have done more to prevent this catastrophe. A pharmacy outage lawyer can help affected parties learn more about their rights and what they can do to pursue compensation from those responsible.

More Information About the Change Healthcare Cyber Attack

On February 21, 2024, Change Healthcare learned that an unauthorized party had infiltrated its computer network. In response, Change Healthcare disconnected its systems in hopes of protecting the vast amount of sensitive information in the company’s possession. Initially, Change Healthcare could not provide an estimate for how long its systems would be down, which caused CVS and other pharmacies across the nation to experience delays in filling prescriptions. However, what’s frustrating many patients is that the attack against Change Healthcare didn’t affect the availability of medications as much as it did the mechanism by which medications are approved by insurance, and by which pharmacies and other healthcare providers are reimbursed.

Do Patients of CVS and Other Pharmacies Have a Remedy?

Yes, patients impacted by the pharmacy outage may have a claim against one of the various parties involved, which may include Change Healthcare and its parent company, UnitedHealth Group, pharmacies, and other insurance companies. Some patients may not have received their medication in a timely manner, and worse, these patients could suffer some harm as a result, including worsening medical conditions resulting from not receiving prescribed medication.

Those who were affected by the nationwide pharmacy outage or who have a loved one who was affected should consider reaching out to an attorney to learn more.

About Change Healthcare

Change Healthcare is a healthcare technology company based out of Nashville, Tennessee. Change Healthcare is a subsidiary of Optum, which is owned by UnitedHealth Group Incorporated. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is an international insurance company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and is currently listed as the world’ eleventh-largest company by revenue. Change Healthcare employs more than 14,000 people and generates approximately $3.5 billion in annual revenue.