National Council Joint Statement on the Change Healthcare Cyberattacks

WASHINGTON, DC (March 7, 2024) – The National Council for Mental Wellbeing and the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers today released the following joint statement about recent cyberattacks affecting the health care industry.

“The Feb. 21 cyberattack that paralyzed the nation’s largest billing and payment system must serve as a warning to organizations throughout the health care continuum that everyone is a target. While national attention has largely focused on the impact of the attack on hospitals and physical health providers, it is important to highlight the equally devastating effects that the ransomware attacks have had on substance use and mental health providers across the country.

“In the midst of an overdose crisis and an increased demand for mental health treatment, this disruption in vital services has left patients vulnerable to crisis, with behavioral health providers unable to obtain insurance approval or payment for their services.

“While the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has asked insurers to waive prior authorizations and Medicare contractors to accept paper bills, the extensive disruption to patient care underscores the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to safeguard health care data and systems.

“The National Council for Mental Wellbeing and the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers join together to highlight the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures. These measures are essential to safeguarding the ability of our members to deliver lifesaving substance use and mental health treatment to some of our nation’s most vulnerable patients.”

If affected by the Cyberattack on Change Healthcare:

• Read the HHS Statement and Guidance, March 5, 2024
• Contact your EHR vendor to learn more about real time transitions to alternative payment clearinghouses to begin the processing of backlogged claims.
• If submitting paper claims, ensure confirmation of payor contact information before sending to ensure the correct numbers and addresses are being used for payors that have traditionally processed electronically.

Media Contacts

National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Sophia Majlessi
Media@TheNationalCouncil.org
202-621-1631

National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers
Luke Miller
lmiller@naatp.org
720-576-8071

About The National Council

Founded in 1969, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is a membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of over 3,300 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 10 million children, adults and families they serve. We advocate for policies to ensure equitable access to high-quality services. We build the capacity of mental health and substance use treatment organizations. And we promote greater understanding of mental wellbeing as a core component of comprehensive health and health care. Through our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program, we have trained more than 3 million people in the U.S. to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.

About NAATP

The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers has been the addiction service profession’s vision, voice, and thought leader since 1978. NAATP is a nonprofit professional membership society and trade association of top treatment providers throughout the addiction treatment continuum of care. NAATP supports its members by providing clinical and operational resources as well as law and policy advocacy. NAATP’s service as a convening body brings the industry together to promote collegiality and the dissemination of best practices.