Change Healthcare’s cyberattack was the focus of congressional hearings on Wednesday, and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle used the opportunity to express their grievances against UnitedHealth Group, Change’s parent company. During the Senate Finance subcommittee hearings, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) declared that it was time to break up UnitedHealth, while Rep. Buddy Carter, a pharmacist and Republican from Georgia, brought out a posterboard depicting UnitedHealth and its many subsidiaries to highlight the company’s dominant presence in the country’s health care sector.
In addition to criticizing UnitedHealth Group’s control over the health care industry, lawmakers also used the hearings as an opportunity to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities in companies like Change Healthcare. The calls to break up the company reflect a growing concern among lawmakers about consolidation in the health care sector and its impact on patients and consumers.
Rep. Carter warned UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty that he would continue to work towards breaking up the company during his testimony at both the Senate Finance and House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearings. Witty was the sole witness at both events.
The cyberattack on Change Healthcare has brought attention to weaknesses in cybersecurity regulations for sensitive patient data, putting pressure on lawmakers to take action to prevent future attacks and ensure patient information is secure.
