Healthcare Leaders Endorse Cybersecurity Legislation Under Consideration in U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON – The Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC), a coalition of chief executives of the nation’s leading healthcare companies, has announced its support of the “Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act,” legislation that is awaiting action in the U.S. Senate.

The bill, introduced by Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), would, among other provisions, require the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Justice and the Director of National Intelligence to share information on potential cyber threats with private entities as well as state and local governments.

In a letter to Senators Burr and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the chair and ranking minority member respectively of the Senate Intelligence Committee, HLC President Mary R. Grealy wrote that the bill will protect health organizations from serious and evolving cyberthreats.

She wrote, “Most importantly, this bill will reinforce the federal civilian interface to provide timely cyber threat information. In times of crisis, the electronic systems supporting our healthcare providers must not be compromised. These systems are a relied-upon component in our nation’s first response to major crises, and are necessary to provide critical care to those most in need.”

She noted in her letter that the healthcare system’s ongoing transformation to value-based care requires health information technology interoperation and engaged patients. Thus, she said, cybersecurity is critical.

Ms. Grealy also wrote that the legislation includes strong patient confidentiality protections to ensure that individually identifiable information is not inappropriately disclosed.