Wyden and Warner Push for Stronger Cybersecurity Measures in Healthcare

In response to the escalating threats targeting healthcare infrastructure, Senators Ron Wyden and Mark Warner have introduced the Health Infrastructure Security and Accountability Act. This legislation arrives in the wake of a troubling surge in cyberattacks that have revealed significant weaknesses in the healthcare system, jeopardizing the privacy and safety of American families. Wyden criticized the current state of cybersecurity in the industry, remarking, “Major corporations like UnitedHealth are failing to meet basic cybersecurity standards, and American families are bearing the consequences.”

The proposed bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish and enforce robust minimum cybersecurity standards across healthcare providers, insurance plans, and vendors. It also seeks to hold CEOs accountable for cybersecurity breaches, potentially leading to imprisonment for executives who provide false information regarding their cybersecurity practices.