What You Should Know:
– UnitedHealth Group (UHG) announced today significant progress in restoring Change Healthcare systems following a cyberattack that disrupted healthcare claims and payment processes nationwide.
– UHG urges all payers to adopt similar funding programs to address the critical short-term cash flow needs of healthcare providers.
Restoration Timeline
- Pharmacy Services: Electronic prescribing, claim submission, and payment transmission are fully operational as of today. Optum Rx pharmacies took proactive steps to ensure patients received needed medications.
- Payments Platform: Electronic payment functionality will be available for connection beginning March 15th.
- Medical Claims: Testing and reconnection to the claims network and software is expected to begin March 18th, with full restoration by the end of the week.
Workarounds and Redundancy
While restoration continues, UHG strongly recommends providers and payers utilize established workarounds, including the new iEDI claim submission system, to maintain operational redundancy.
Financial Support for Providers
UHG has implemented several programs to address cash flow disruptions experienced by providers due to the attack:
- Optum Temporary Funding Assistance Program: Launched March 1st, this program bridges short-term cash flow needs for providers who received payments processed by Change Healthcare.
- UnitedHealthcare Provider Funding: UHG will advance weekly payments to medical, dental, and vision providers, covering the difference between historical and post-attack payment levels. These advances require no repayment until claims processing resumes. Registration is required.
- Optum Funding Program Expansion: This program assists providers who have exhausted connection options and work with payers not offering advanced funding. This program is a last resort for small and regional providers and requires an Optum Pay account.
Program Details and Registration
All provider funding programs are offered with no fees or interest charges. Repayment terms require full payment within 30 days of receiving an invoice once standard payment operations resume.
For detailed information on program eligibility, funding amounts, and registration, visit: www.optum.com/temporaryfunding.
