Bipartisan Legislation Seeks Stronger Healthcare Cybersecurity

US senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mark Warner (D-VA), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) have introduced a bipartisan bill seeking stronger cybersecurity in the healthcare sector and the protection of health data.

The Health Care Cybersecurity and Resiliency Act of 2024 (PDF) calls for updated Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations and for financial aid for low-resourced entities to improve cybersecurity across the healthcare sector.

Per the bill, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will coordinate with the US cybersecurity agency CISA to strengthen the sector’s cybersecurity stance through information sharing and the development of products tailored for healthcare organizations.

The legislation also dictates that the HHS secretary, in coordination with CISA, will provide training to health and public health sector asset owners and operators, promoting cybersecurity literacy and expertise.

Within one year of the bill’s enactment, the HHS secretary will be required ...