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More From Anthem On Cyber Attack

Cyber attack at Anthem

Members who may have been impacted by the cyber attack against us should be aware of scam email campaigns targeting current and former members.  These scams, designed to capture personal information (known as “phishing”) are designed to appear as if they are from a health plan and the emails include a “click here” link for credit monitoring. These emails are NOT from us.

  • DO NOT click on any links in email.
  • DO NOT reply to the email or reach out to the senders in any way.
  • DO NOT supply any information on the website that may open, if you clicked on a link in email.
  • DO NOT open any attachments that arrive with email.

We are not calling members regarding the cyber attack and are not asking for credit card information or social security numbers over the phone.

This outreach is from scam artists who are trying to trick consumers into sharing personal data. There is no indication that the scam email campaigns are being conducted by those that committed the cyber attack, or that the information accessed in the attack is being used by the scammers.

We will contact current and former members via mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service about the cyber attack with specific information on how to enroll in credit monitoring. Affected members will receive free credit monitoring and ID protection services. 

For more guidance on recognizing scam email, please visit the FTC Website: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0003-phishing.

We have created a dedicated website (www.AnthemFacts.com) where everyone can access information such as frequently asked questions and answers.

This article applies to:

  • California, Wisconsin, Virginia, Ohio, New York, Nevada, New Hampshire, Missouri, Maine, Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia, Connecticut, and Colorado
  • Small Group, Large Group, Individual (under 65), Senior, Medicare, ANA Consultant, and ANA Client

Contact Steven G. Cosby, MHSA with questions or to request more information and to schedule a healthcare plan evaluation, savings analysis or group plan solution for your company.

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Important Update from Anthem

Immediate Release

February 5, 2015

To our valued business partner:

Safeguarding your clients’ personal, financial and medical information is one of our top priorities, and because of that, we have state-of-the-art information security systems to protect your data. However, despite our efforts, Anthem was the target of a very sophisticated external, cyber attack. These attackers gained unauthorized access to Anthem’s information technology (IT) system and have obtained personal information from our current and former members such as their names, birthdays, member ID/Social Security numbers, street addresses, email addresses and employment information, including income data. Based on the information we know now, there is no evidence that banking, credit card, medical information (such as claims, test results, or diagnostic codes) were targeted or compromised.

Once the attack was discovered, Anthem immediately made every effort to close the security vulnerability, contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and began fully cooperating with their investigation. Anthem has also retained Mandiant, one of the world’s leading cybersecurity firms, to evaluate our systems and identify solutions based on the evolving landscape.

Anthem’s own associates’ personal information – including our own – was accessed during this security breach. We join you in your concern and frustration, and we assure you that we are working around the clock to do everything we can to further secure your clients’ data.

Anthem will individually notify current and former members whose information has been accessed. We will provide credit monitoring and identity protection services free of charge so that those who have been affected can have peace of mind. We have created a dedicated website (www.AnthemFacts.com ) where members can access information such as frequently asked questions and answers. We have also established a dedicated toll-free number that both current and former members can call if they have questions related to this incident. That number is: 1-877-263-7995. As we learn more, we will continually update this website and share that information with you. And, we developed a memo template and FAQ to help you answer questions you may receive from your clients.

We want to personally apologize to you and your clients for what has happened, as we know you expect us to protect your information. We will do everything in our power to make our systems and security processes better and more secure, and hope that we can earn back your trust.

Your local representative is also prepared to discuss this with you.

Sincerely,

Ken Goulet
President, Commercial and Specialty Business

Burke King
Virginia Plan President

Source: http://news.anthem.com/bcp/index.php/articlepreview/index.html/important_update_from_anthem1

Contact Steven G. Cosby, MHSA with questions or to request more information and to schedule a healthcare plan evaluation, savings analysis or group plan solution for your company.

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Hackers Breach Anthem; 80M Exposed

Hackers infiltrated Anthem’s information technology system and gained access to the personal information of about 80 million current and former members.

It appears to be by far the largest cyberattack ever disclosed by a healthcare company.

In what the Indianapolis-abased company described as a “very sophisticated” attack, hackers gained access to the names, birthdays, medical IDs, Social Security numbers, addresses, e-mail addresses, employment information and income data of current and former members, including Anthem employees, according to a letter to customers by CEO Joseph Swedish. The company has no evidence that credit card or medical information, such as claims, test results or diagnostic codes were “targeted or compromised,” Swedish wrote.

The source of the attack is unclear. All product lines were impacted, including Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, among other brands. Anthem (formerly WellPoint) has 37.5 million members enrolled in its affiliated health plans and serves 68.5 million people through all of its subsidiary businesses, which include Medicaid managed care and claims administration for self-funded plans.

Anthem is cooperating with an FBI investigation into the attack, and has contacted Mandiant, a major cybersecurity firm, to determine the vulnerabilities in its systems. Swedish notes in the letter that, along with his employees, his own personal information was accessed in the breach.

Read the full report here.

Contact Steven G. Cosby, MHSA with questions or to request more information and to schedule a healthcare plan evaluation, savings analysis or group plan solution for your company.

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BREAKING: Medicare’s Pioneer Program Down to 19 ACOs After Three More Exit

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Three years after the CMS carefully selected 32 accountable care organizations deemed best able to manage the Pioneer program’s financial risks, three more have decided they no longer want to. The new departures—the program is now down to 19 ACOs—suggest even the most sophisticated health systems may be unwilling to take losses as policymakers test new payment and delivery models.

Franciscan Alliance in Indianapolis, Genesys PHO in Flint, Mich., and Renaissance Health Network in Wayne, Pa., have exited the program, which is now in its third year.

The ongoing trickle of departures from the Pioneer program underscores the broader tension and debate among providers, policymakers and health systems exploring ways to overhaul the way Medicare pays hospitals and doctors—attempts that have rippled through private markets as commercial health plans follow suit.

Read the full report here.

Contact Steven G. Cosby, MHSA with questions or to request more information and to schedule a healthcare plan evaluation, savings analysis or group plan solution for your company.

More Newly-Insured Patients Using Health Services, Increasing Costs For Insurers

A rush of newly insured patients using health services has boosted hospital operators’ fortunes but has racked up costs that insurers didn’t anticipate, corporate filings and interviews with executives show.

People are getting more back surgeries, seeking maternity care and showing up at emergency rooms more frequently, executives say, boosting income for hospital operators.

Read the full report here.

Contact Steven Cosby with questions or to request more information and to schedule a healthcare plan evaluation, savings analysis or group plan solution for your company.

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