One of the nation's biggest health-care systems has agreed to pay the largest settlement ever by a single entity for potential violations of federal patient privacy law, related to breaches that compromised the electronic data of 4 million patients.
Arizona's largest health care system is stepping up security measures after two recent cyberattacks. Phoenix-based Banner Health announced Wednesday that it was mailing letters to 3.7 million people who may have been affected by the computer hacks.
Cyberhackers may have the credit card information of people who bought food at Banner Health facilities. The company said the attack was initiated on June 17 and gave hackers access to some Banner Health computer servers, as well as the systems that process payment card data at food and beverage outlets at some Banner Health locations. The hack was discovered on July 7.
A massive cyberattack at Banner Health that began June 17 compromised the records of up to 3.7 million patients, health insurance plan members, food and drink customers, doctors and others at Arizona's largest health-care provider's locations. Banner Health last month discovered unusual activity on its computer servers and uncovered evidence of two attacks with hackers accessing both payment-card records of food and beverage customers and patient records.
The line between pharmaceuticals and technology is blurring as companies join forces to tackle chronic diseases using high-tech devices that combine biology, software and hardware. GlaxoSmithKline and Google parent Alphabet are the latest to share expertise, unveiling a new joint company on Monday that aims to market bioelectronic devices to fight illness by attaching to individual nerves.
Florida Hospital's Innovation Lab will work with a New Mexico tech firm to help doctors keep closer tabs on patients. After winning the InnovationX competition hosted by Florida Hospital in Orlando on July 29, health tech firm Twistle will work closely with doctors and other innovators to help test and improve the company's service.