SparkServices
Cybersecurity Incident Response
Dealing with Continued Disruption
On February 21, 2024, a major cybersecurity attack targeted one of the most prominent vendors in the industry, causing widespread disruption. Connections between hospitals, vendors, and payers were severed, leading to a significant halt in critical operations such as prescription services, claims processing, and remittance management.
Impact to the Industry
Pharmacy Disruption
The cyberattack temporarily disabled electronic prescription services. This disruption posed significant risks to patient safety and leading to potential financial losses.
Claims Processing Stalled
With the vendor’s network down, claims were delayed, creating a backlog and payment delays. Exclusive payer partnerships further prolonged the impact, despite efforts to find alternate pathways.
Remittance Delays
The incident halted remittance processing, disrupting insurance payments and complicating finances. Contractual obligations with the vendor further hindered alternative solutions.
Our Proactive Response
At SparkChange, we deliver immediate and strategic support to healthcare organizations facing challenges. Our expertise in Project Management, Strategic Incident Response, and Ongoing Monitoring ensures seamless operations. We coordinate with leadership, establish clear communication, and leave no detail overlooked. We track impacts across billing systems, streamline workflows through automation, and keep clients informed every step of the way.
The Approach
Representing clients in critical vendor collaborations.
Exploring alternative claim submission pathways.
Tailoring solutions to meet unique needs.
How we’re doing it.
Project Management
We coordinate with healthcare leadership teams to set priorities, establish clear communication channels, and meticulously track progress. We monitor and manage the flow of pending claims to ensure no detail is overlooked and provide regular status calls and updates to keep all stakeholders informed and aligned.
Strategic Incident Response
We represent our clients in crucial vendor collaborations and explore alternative claim submission pathways. Additionally, we organize focused sessions to address specific challenges, tailoring our approach to meet each client’s unique needs.
Comprehensive Impact Tracking
We aggregate and analyze data across multiple billing systems to identify the financial impact and help clients understand the full scope of the disruption. Additionally, we execute detailed tracking of claims, payments, and denials to assess both immediate and long-term effects on revenue cycles.
Ongoing Monitoring and Support
We monitor key financial metrics, such as payment timelines and denial rates, to keep our clients on track. We also work closely with financial teams to assess additional work efforts or costs incurred due to the incident, providing insights to inform future risk management strategies.
Automation
SparkChange assesses issues, workflows, and data points to pinpoint areas where our comprehensive suite of Revenue Cycle automations can effectively eliminate manual work. By thoroughly evaluating these elements, we identify opportunities to streamline processes and enhance efficiency throughout the revenue cycle.
Why SparkChange?
In today’s healthcare landscape, swift and effective responses to disruptions are crucial. SparkChange delivers not just a response but a comprehensive strategy to strengthen your revenue cycle operations. With our expertise in incident management and deep understanding of healthcare, we’re the reliable partner you need.
Partner with SparkChange to ensure a resilient, future-proof approach to healthcare revenue cycle management.
Contact Us to Learn More
Want to learn more about our cybersecurity incident response? We’d love to connect with you to discover how SparkChange can future-proof your revenue cycle.