AHA, other groups call for medical device security guidance, financial support

Industry stakeholders are asking Congress for financial support, guidance, and FDA standards to address medical device security flaws. A recent study found that providers often don’t even know when their devices have been hacked. The American Hospital Association outlined steps hospitals are taking to bolster cybersecurity, but legacy systems and the high cost of shoring up security pose challenges. Stakeholders are calling for federal assistance in the form of tax breaks or additional Medicare reimbursements. They also want the FDA to coordinate disclosures and make security mandatory for legacy devices.