March 14, 2024
Physician practices continue to struggle and identify workarounds after the late February Change Healthcare cyberattack.
On March 9, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that physicians who have been impacted by the cyberattack and resulting disruptions can request advanced Medicare payments to help with cash-flow disruptions. More information and eligibility criteria can be found here. (CMS has also posted FAQs.)
UnitedHealth Group has also established temporary funding assistance to affected practices. Details and updated information on the Change restoration is available on UHG’s cyber response page here.
On March 13, the U.S. Office for Civil Rights announced an investigation into whether the attached involved a breach of protected health information occurred and Change Healthcare’s and UHG’s compliance with HIPAA Rules.
The MMA will continue to monitor the situation, and we will provide additional updates to physicians as they become available.
August 28, 2025
The apparent removal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director, Susan Monarez, PhD, after just weeks on the job, further imperils the work of the CDC and the health of Americans. Her removal was followed by the resignations of other senior leaders at the CDC, who have accused HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. of undermining scientific recommendations for vaccines.
August 26, 2025
University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham, MD, will speak at the Empowering Physicians: A Night of Learning & Connection event on Friday, September 26, from 4 to 9 pm, at the historic Hewing Hotel in downtown Minneapolis.
August 26, 2025
America's physicians are seeing a rise in misinformation and disinformation from patients these days, and it’s impacting patient care, according to a new study from the Physicians Foundation.