Change Healthcare Breach: What the Industry Has Learned

It’s been a year since the Change Healthcare breach shocked the healthcare industry, exposing major vulnerabilities across data systems. As the number of affected individuals continues to grow, the incident has become a case study in cybersecurity failures and resilience. In this article, we explore the most important Change Healthcare breach lessons—from third-party risk to cybersecurity frameworks—that are reshaping how health tech companies approach data protection.

It’s been over a year since the Change Healthcare breach exposed widespread vulnerabilities in the U.S. healthcare system. With the number of impacted individuals continuing to rise, the event has become a wake-up call for payers, providers, and tech vendors alike. The lessons from the Change Healthcare breach highlight the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity frameworks, improved third-party risk management, and consistent attention to basic cyber hygiene.

Kim Perry, Chief Growth Officer at emtelligent, a leading AI-enabled analytics company, offered her perspective on how organizations can respond:

“Data is invaluable, so we must be more diligent in safeguarding the data we store and transmit,” she said. “This is especially critical as we seek to increase data liquidity to meet the requirements of HITECH, HT-1, and other health data and interoperability standards.”

Key Takeaways from the Change Healthcare Breach:

• Third-party risk is non-negotiable. Vendors must meet rigorous security standards.
• Cyber hygiene needs to be foundational, not optional.
• Compliance isn’t enough—real security comes from continuous investment and vigilance.
• Interoperability adds complexity. As data sharing increases, so do vulnerabilities.

Industry leaders now advocate for implementing zero-trust architecture, conducting regular audits, and educating employees on recognizing cyber threats. These Change Healthcare breach lessons are driving change in how the healthcare industry protects sensitive patient information.

As more data moves through digital systems, the stakes only grow higher. Organizations must learn from past breaches and proactively build a safer fut

Read the full article here.