Nebraska
Cyberattack on healthcare network impacts Nebraska hospitals
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A recent cyberattack on a national healthcare network is still impacting many Nebraska hospitals, officials say.
UnitedHealth Group reported the attack on its Change Healthcare IT systems to the SEC last week. The company had detected the attack on Wednesday, Feb. 21, and said in its filing that it expected the attack to continue through the next day.
Gray News reported on Friday that pharmacies across the country — including CVS, Walgreens, and GoodRx — were having trouble processing some prescriptions because of that attack.
Noting an increase in frequency and sophistication of ransomware attacks on hospitals and other healthcare systems — over the last two years in particular — the American Hospital Association and Nebraska Hospital Association have called on the U.S. health department to provide “immedate regulatory flexibility” as well as financial support as they navigate the disruption.
Wednesday, the NHA said in a news release that the attack had disrupted “a number of its systems and services,” including authorizations for prescriptions, procedures, and surgeries; inpatient insurance verification; as well as cost estimates and patient billing.
“Due to this incident, Nebraskans may experience longer wait times regarding authorizations for procedures, as well as delays in resolution of claims,” NHA President Jeremy Nordquist said in the release. “Our hospitals ask Nebraskans to be understanding as we work through these challenges.”
He said that hospitals were working to manage the challenges “as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
According to the NHA release, the AHA had been in contact with the FBI, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency about the attack.
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Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said Thursday that he has asked President Donald Trump to issue a major disaster declaration for damage caused by storms that hit the state May 15-18.
The storms spawned tornadoes and flash flooding across Buffalo, Fillmore, Gage, Howard, Jefferson, Nemaha, Thayer and Thurston counties. There were numerous downed power poles and lines as well as extensive damage to schools, building and roadways. Damage just to public infrastructure is estimated at nearly $5 million.
In addition to the disaster declaration request, Pillen said he also has requested access to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides funding to governments to allow them to rebuild in ways that will reduce or mitigate future disaster losses. Approval would allow the state to apply for such grants.
Thursday’s disaster declaration request is the second in two months. Back in May, Pillen requested one for historic wildfires in March that impacted Arthur, Garden, Grant, Lincoln and Morill counties. At the time of the request, it was estimated there was at least $9.7 million in damage from the fires, which were the worst in Nebraska’s history.
Nebraska
Bandits back in the win column with tournament-opening victory in Nebraska – East Idaho News
OMAHA, Neb. – The Bandits opened the Omaha, Nebraska tournament with a 7-4 win over Fremont.
The Bandits, coming off two losses to Billings at last week’s Bandits Invitational, trailed 4-3 in the fifth, but tied it up on a sac fly by Cole Croft.
They scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth for the win.
Carter Bowen finished 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Conner Cannon and Taye Lords each knocked in two runs for Idaho Falls (10-2).
Tyson Christenson picked up the win with four innings of relief.
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LOWELL, Neb. (WOWT) – On this day in 1872, the boomtown of Lowell, Nebraska was named the seat of Kearney County.
The Nebraska State Historical Society says the Burlington and Missouri River Railroads chose it as a town site the year before.
For a short time, it became a major shipping point for central Nebraska.
Its status would be short-lived.
Later that year, the railroad expanded to Kearney, which became the center for regional trading.
Lowell’s land office was removed in 1874.
Four years later, the boom town was nothing more than a village.
MORE LOCAL HISTORY
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