The Area Agency on Aging is determined to keep doors open for veterans despite major cyber attack

BY FADIA PATTERSON TAMPA
PUBLISHED 9:50 PM ET MAR. 25, 2024

PINELLAS COUNTY — The health care industry is currently facing a major cyber attack, which has directly impacted the payment exchange systems used by hospitals, doctors and insurance companies. While patients have not been the direct victims of the attack, the consequences are significant. Additionally, the non-profit organization Area Agency on Aging of Pasco Pinellas, Inc. is currently struggling financially.

Despite the cyberattack, the agency is keeping its doors open.

Randal Igus is a 67-year-old quadriplegic who requires constant care.

“What they are providing me is assistance and support,” said Igus.

The veteran has been getting care from the comfort of his home since 2018 from the Area Agency on Aging.

The agency is ensuring uninterrupted service quality despite a nationwide cyber attack that has affected all of Change Healthcare’s providers. This platform is used by the agency for billing purposes.

“We can’t get paid,” said Executive Director Ann Marie Winter. “So we haven’t been paid for the months of January and February, and here we are at the end of March; the program costs us about $300,000 a month.”

Winter says the agency has been staying afloat with the help of reserves and an advance of $300,000 from the parent company of Change Healthcare.,

It covers home health aids, incontinence supplies, and transportation to doctors’ offices; every service needed to stay at home.

They plan to request another advance. Ann Marie says they have never considered discontinuing healthcare for the veterans they serve.

“This is our mission; our mission is to help seniors stay at home for as long as possible and avoid nursing home placement. There is no way that we would not provide these services. We just need the money to be able to do it,” said Winter.

If the platform remains inaccessible until the end of this month, they will have paid $900,000 out of their own pockets..

“I appreciate the agency doing all it does, the care and just doing all it can do to keep me healthy,” said Igus.

The American Hospital Association has labeled the recent cyberattack as the most significant one to hit the U.S. healthcare system. The incident is currently under federal investigation.

United Health Group, the parent company, issued a statement on their website stating that Change Healthcare experienced a cybersecurity issue. They also mentioned that they have implemented multiple workarounds to ensure that healthcare providers’ claims are addressed, and people can access the necessary medications and care.

Additionally, United Health Group has advanced over $2.5 billion to care providers through their temporary funding assistance program at no cost.

Link to original story can be found here.

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