King, Rubio Introduce Legislation to Improve Health Care Cybersecurity

February 09, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Co-Chair of the Cybersecurity Solarium Commission and a member of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) and Intelligence Committees (SSCI), and Marco Rubio (R-FL), today introduced legislation to protect U.S. healthcare systems from hackers and other bad actors. TheStrengthening Cybersecurity in Health Care Actwould require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) perform consistent evaluations of its cybersecurity systems, and provide biannual reports on its current practices and progress on future safety procedures they are working to implement.
Recentreportinghas indicated an exponential increase in cybersecurity attacks against healthcare systems across the country, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In 2023,approximately133 million people had their health data, such as Medicare beneficiary data, social security numbers, and medical records breached. As the agency tasked with keeping Americans’ personal health information safe, HHS must be equipped to combat the latest hacking strategies.
“In recent years, several of Maine’s major healthcare providers have been the victims of cyberattacks. This threat to America’s critical infrastructure is real, and could literally mean the difference between life and death — we must take proactive steps to enhance the cybersecurity of our healthcare and public health sectors,”said Senator King.“The bipartisanStrengthening Cybersecurity in Health Care Actwould help ensure that health institutions have the resources to keep patient data safe. As the number of threats continues to grow, consistent evaluations will prove to be a lifeline to the medical community treating our family and friends.”
“Since the pandemic, we have seen a rise in the number of cyberattacks against our healthcare systems. I am proud to introduce the bipartisanStrengthening Cybersecurity in Health Care Act.This legislation aims to reassure the American people by better safeguarding their sensitive information, ensuring peace of mind during these ever changing times,”Senator Rubio said.
Just last week, Northern Light Health computers werecompromised via a server breach, but patient records were not affected. Northern Light Health is one of the latest Maine health care systems, includingMount Desert Island Hospitaland others, to become victim to a cyber attack — underscoring the importance of strong cybersecurity efforts to protect Maine patients from bad actors.
As Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), Senator King is recognized as one of Congress’ leading experts on cyberdefense and as a strong advocates for a forward-thinking cyberstrategy that emphasizes layered cyberdeterrence. Since itofficially launched in April 2019,dozens of CSC recommendations have been enacted into law, includingthe creation of a National Cyber Director. Together with Solarium Co-Chair Representative Mike Gallagher, Kingpreviously urgedthe Biden Administration to better protect the public health sector from cyber threats and called for stronger, collaborative efforts to address the growing threat.
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