Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner speaks on pharmacy system cyberattack

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner is offering consumer advice about the recent cyberattack making it difficult for individuals to pick up their prescriptions.

A cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a processing service for medical prescriptions owned by UnitedHealth Group, has affected eight local pharmacies in the Wenatchee Valley.

While the system cyberattack seems to have affected each pharmacy differently, most pharmacies are now unable to bill insurances for prescriptions, leaving customers forced to pay out-of-pocket.

The office of Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler says that while this issue is not impacting prescription orders already fulfilled, customers needing a refill or new prescription are left “stuck” until the effects from Change Healthcare’s system cyberattack are resolved.

“Our advice to people is to contact their insurance company directly. They should have a plan in place for getting you the drugs you need,” said OIC public affairs director Stephanie Marquis. “If they do end up paying out-of-pocket, their insurer must reimburse them for a covered Rx [prescription].”