In The Crosshairs -- Over 9 In 10 Corporate Health Care Attorneys Believe Their Organizations At Greater Risk For Cyberattack Than Other Industries

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Patient health and medical records.  Social security numbers.  Credit card information.  Billing and insurance records.  Cyberthieves are targeting this information and threatening to hold it hostage, putting the health care industry on edge, according to a nationwide survey of nearly 300 health care attorneys conducted by Bloomberg Law and the American Health Lawyers Association and introduced in advance of the annual meeting of the Association of Corporate Counsel in San Francisco, October 16-19.  For a complimentary copy of the survey summary, visit the Bloomberg Law booth 102. 

The research found that the majority of health care attorneys are intimately involved in managing cybersecurity issues.  Over eight in ten (84 percent) have been called upon to evaluate whether a security incident implicates reporting obligations and have been asked to develop relevant internal policies and procedures. And nearly all responding health care attorneys (97 percent) expect their involvement in cybersecurity matters to increase over the next three years, and over seven in ten are developing their own data security expertise to meet this growing demand.

When it comes to cyberthreat responses, both law firm attorneys and corporate counsel feel prepared to respond to a breach or cyberattack but worry that those plans may be inadequate.  For example, about 40 percent of all attorneys said the plans are too generic and lack specific guidance for the types of incidents their organizations or clients might face and have not been adequately tested prior to an actual breach incident.  And fully one-third of surveyed attorneys indicated that plans are not updated to reflect the most recent types of cyberthreats or organizational changes.

"While it is encouraging that health care attorneys are on the front lines of preparing for and responding to cyber incidents, it is apparent from this survey that there is much more that needs to be done," said Scott Falk, Vice President and General Manager, Health Care and Litigation, Bloomberg Law.  "For example, there is overwhelming agreement from respondents that it is important to improve formal cybersecurity education and training for health care lawyers.  Thus there is tremendous value in utilizing external resources and professional organizations that can meet this critical need." 

"Health care providers have stepped up in recent years to identify and address cyberthreats before they materialize, but according to survey findings, health care attorneys still believe that the health care industry is more vulnerable to breaches and attacks than other industries," said David Cade, Chief Executive Officer, American Health Lawyers Association. "Quality education for attorneys working in this area will help them effectively counsel clients in preventing and responding to cyberattacks."

For additional insights, health care attorneys look to Bloomberg Law's Health Practice Center, which provides expert analysis, news, access to the latest legislations and court opinions to help them provide proactive guidance for their clients. 

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About Bloomberg Law
Bloomberg Law helps legal professionals provide world-class counsel with access to actionable legal intelligence in a business context. Bloomberg Law delivers a unique combination of practical guidance, comprehensive primary and secondary source material, trusted content from Bloomberg BNA, news, time-saving practice tools, market data and business intelligence. For more information, visit www.bna.com/bloomberglaw.

About American Health Lawyers Association
The American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) is the nation's largest nonpartisan educational organization devoted to legal issues in the health care field. The Association's 13,500 members practice in a variety of settings in the health care community. For information about our resources, publications, educational offerings, and public interest resources visit www.healthlawyers.org or @healthlawyers on Twitter.

SOURCE Bloomberg BNA; American Health Lawyers Association

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