On July 12, 2024, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) wrote a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger, urging them to develop and release a set of mandatory national minimum cybersecurity standards for health care organizations. The letter notes the increasing prevalence of cyberattacks targeting the health care industry, including the massive attack on Change Healthcare in February 2024. Senator Warner asserts that, given the size and interconnected nature of the industry, health care organizations are at an elevated risk for cyberattacks that compromise highly sensitive personal information. This letter is part of a growing Congressional effort to improve cybersecurity measures and standards across the health care industry and beyond. Notably, on July 11, 2024, Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Todd Young (R-IN) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act, S. 4697, to create a better federal infrastructure to coordinate information and responses during a cyberattack. 

The letter is available here.

Healthcare Cybersecurity Act, S. 4697 is available here.

Impact on General Dentistry: Health care cybersecurity and data privacy are an increasing focal point in Congress, especially following the Change Healthcare cyberattack. AGD will continue to update members on legislative and regulatory actions taken to bolster cybersecurity.