• District of Columbia: The FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center recently issued an advisory about a group of Iranian cyber actors that have targeted U.S.-based entities, including healthcare organizations. In the advisory, the agencies said the actors are trying to work with ransomware affiliates to lock networks and find ways to extort organizations. According to Modern Healthcare, the advisory comes as cybersecurity executives at health systems are working to pinpoint potential areas of weaknesses after recent large-scale breaches across the country. In 2023, the number of people affected by healthcare breaches reached record highs, with 40% of the U.S. population either having their information stolen or exposed. (Turner, Modern Healthcare, 8/30)
• Louisiana: Last week, Ochsner Health announced that it is expanding its digital medicine program to offer weight management services. Previously, the digital medicine program focused on patients with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Patients who use the program's weight management services will receive personalized weigh-in reminders through a smartphone app and have access to popular weight-loss drugs, including GLP-1 medications. Patients on GLP-1 drugs will also be monitored through weight check-ins and have regular interactions with a care team. According to Dan Shields, CEO of Ochsner Digital Medicine, the program will be available to patients at no cost unless their prescription plan has a cost-sharing component to access weight-loss medications. The popularity of weight-loss drugs has led several healthcare organizations to offer virtual weight management services, including Mayo Clinic. (Perna, Modern Healthcare, 9/4)
• Maryland: CMS announced that it will grant $100 million to 44 insurance navigation organizations that help people sign up for insurance coverage during the open enrollment period. The funding is designated for a 12-month period beginning Aug. 27, and grantees include community health centers, behavioral health clinics, legal aid societies, rural health clinics, and women's health centers. "Having access to trusted local partners is key to improving access to health services, particularly for those who just need a little extra help to understand the critical lifeline available through the [Affordable Care Act] marketplace and how to choose the best plan to meet their needs," said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. According to Modern Healthcare, CMS plans to distribute up to $500 million in funding to insurance navigators over the next five years. (Early, Modern Healthcare, 8/26)

Use our resource library to guide you through the following steps for becoming a cyber resilient organization:

1. 3 steps to (finally) address your cybersecurity 'elephant in the room'

2. How to be a cybersecurity sentinel

3. Scripps CEO: What we learned from being attacked by ransomware