Portland, Maine – Pharmacies in Maine, along with others across the nation, are grappling with the repercussions of a recent cyberattack. The attack has disrupted operations at pharmacies, impacting their ability to provide essential medications to patients, especially those who are most vulnerable.
The cyberattack, affecting Change Healthcare, a key player in the pharmacy benefit management system, has left pharmacies struggling to process insurance claims and determine patient eligibility for certain medications. Community Pharmacies, a chain with eight locations in Maine, experienced immediate challenges as the cyberattack unfolded, with staff members swiftly detecting abnormalities in their systems.
Amelia Arnold, the vice president of Community Pharmacies, expressed concern over the dual role Change Healthcare plays in overseeing pharmacy benefit management and setting medication costs. The disruption caused by the cyberattack has hindered pharmacies’ abilities to provide seamless care to patients, impacting services like MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program.
Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) revealed that MaineCare, which relies on Change Healthcare for its pharmacy claims system, is currently facing disruptions due to the cyberattack. Despite no reported compromise of personal data, MaineCare members may encounter challenges in accessing their prescriptions during this period.
To mitigate the impact on MaineCare members, DHHS instructed pharmacies to provide a temporary 3-day supply of prescriptions as a stopgap measure. Additionally, pharmacies are advised to assist members in obtaining refunds for prescriptions paid for during the system disruption. CVS, another pharmacy chain, confirmed difficulties in processing insurance claims but assured plans were in place to address the issue and ensure access to care.
As pharmacies navigate the aftermath of the cyberattack, uncertainty looms over the timeline for full system restoration and the extent of the impact on patient care. Patients like Kristy Brittain, who rely on MaineCare for their healthcare needs, are anxiously monitoring the situation, hoping for a swift resolution to the disruption in pharmacy services. With ongoing challenges persisting in the pharmacy industry, stakeholders continue to work towards solutions to alleviate the burden on both pharmacies and patients affected by the cyberattack.