Change Healthcare announces Temporary Funding Assistance Program and timeline updates
As of Friday, United Health Group has advanced nearly $4.7B to providers in need and will continue to provide financial support to providers through full system recovery. For eligibility, see United Health Group's Information on the Change Healthcare Cyber Response.
The MMS encourages practices to take advantage of this temporary funding and to develop redundancy plans including clearinghouse alternatives and other practice supports- e.g lines of credit - for future cyberattack readiness. Local health plans are offering "case by case" review for advance payments. Contact your provider relations representatives to pursue this option.
The site also announced a new estimated timeline for product restoration, noting specific capabilities
expected to be restored during the weeks of March 25 and April 1.
Information from United Healthcare may also be found on the Optum (merged with Change Healthcare in 2022) website.
From the MMS and the Massachusetts Collaborative
Guidance is available from Change Healthcare Assistance Program (CHAP), via toll-free helpline
The Massachusetts Medical Society, working through the Massachusetts Collaborative developed the Change Healthcare Assistance Program (CHAP) to provide guidance on alternative resources for practices and to assist providers in getting connected and transacting with their trading partners. Practices experiencing on-going disruptions or needing guidance should contact the toll-free helpline.
Change Healthcare Assistance Program from the MassCollaborative:
- Dedicated Toll-free helpline is (888) 402-3550.
- Dedicated Webpage at mahealthdata.org/chap with information necessary for providers interested in establishing an alternate EDI service
- Provider checklist for reconnecting practices and communicating with health plans.
- Information for connecting with an alternative EDI.
- Links to payer resources for United Healthcare, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicaid/MassHealth, Point32Health, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (additional payers will be added as information becomes available)
- Open Office Hour 12:00 PM on March 28, April 11, 18, 25. Office hours will continue as needed through July 2024)
Cyber Liability, Practice Continuity, and Other Insurance Resources
Cyberattacks will be the norm in healthcare. The team at Physicians Insurance understands the concerns raised by the recent Change Healthcare cyberattack. As a full-service insurance broker and subsidiary of the MMS, the insurance experts at Physicians
Insurance are here to help with cyber liability exposures and other insurance needs.
For more information, contact Physicians Insurance via email at piam@mms.org or visit piam.com. To contact
Physicians Insurance directly, call (781) 434-7525 Monday through Friday.
Financial services offered for practices impacted by Change Healthcare cyberattack
Panacea Financial, a financial services company that provides financing and banking services specifically for physicians and is an MMS corporate partner, has dedicated practice specialists available to speak with physicians’ practices about financing
needs resulting from the revenue disruptions associated with the cyberattack on Change Healthcare.
Impacted practices may visit the Panacea Financial website to request a consultation with a Panacea Financial practice specialist
and learn more about short-term lines of credit and other financing options.
MMS members enjoy preferred rates and services with Panacea Financial. To contact Panacea Financial directly, call (833) 472-6223.
CMS and NGS Resources
Helpful Links
