The Brave New World of Digital Healthcare
Navigating Equity, AI, an Aging Infrastructure and More

The Brave New World of Digital Healthcare: Navigating Health Equity, AI, an Aging Infrastructure and More 

It’s not a secret that healthcare organizations have become a primary target for cybercriminals. Since 2022, ransomware attacks alone have nearly doubled¹. The industry remains a target due to the wealth of sensitive data available. Further, the established digital infrastructure is not designed to protect against new and emerging threats². Recent statistics show the cost per breach in healthcare peaked at $10.9 million³ per incident in 2023. In 2024, healthcare still tops the list as the industry with the highest cost per breach. Why is this significant? Since the pandemic, consumer demand for greater digital engagement with providers is growing. One consumer survey revealed a bad digital experience with a provider⁴ ruins the entire provider interaction. In another recent survey⁵, over half of the respondents agree they would prefer to use a mobile app⁵ to manage healthcare appointments, prescriptions, and medical records.  

This sets up a conundrum for healthcare organizations. While hackers and cybercriminals target them for the wealth of data available in their networks and databases, consumers expect convenient digital access to their data. Emerging market trends like consumer ownership of medical records, digital portal expansion and interoperability require healthcare organizations to vigilantly protect against breaches. At the same time, they seek to provide patients and members with the satisfying, consumer-like experience they have come to expect from other industries. Let’s look at some of the challenges healthcare organizations face and how they can potentially overcome them. 

Health Equity Concerns 

Digital access to care should be available to all in need, and not just those who are technology-savvy. Flavio Villanustre, SVP and Global Chief Security Officer at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, said in a recent episode of the Healthcare DataWake podcast⁶, “For most people, the degree of healthcare and healthcare data literacy is very, very low, and certain social groups, unfortunately, the less privileged social groups, tend to be the ones that have even less understanding and they’re the ones that often have the biggest need for it. Seniors tend to fall into that group. Groups that are disadvantaged groups, marginalized.”  

Expanding digital access does not achieve its intended purpose if certain populations can’t leverage it. One example of this is new account creation and login. Common methods of verifying and authenticating identities online can be difficult. Additional barriers to care, such as confusing digital consent forms, limited Wi-Fi connectivity and digital access agreements only exacerbate the problem.    

To address health equity challenges, healthcare organizations should consider using identity verification solutions that can evaluate devices, behaviors, and digital identifiers- such as email that do not present a lot of friction for consumers. These solutions create barriers for cybercriminals while delivering a better consumer experience. 

AI vs. AI 

So, how are fraudsters leveraging AI to mislead victims? In a recent release from the FBI in San Francisco, a notice was issued that AI was being used to conduct advanced phishing and social engineering scams with the intent to exploit the trust of individuals and organizations⁷. Cybercriminals can use AI tools that clone voices to impersonate trusted individuals, misleading consumers or employees to reveal sensitive information that can provide account access. This is a significant threat to the healthcare industry. Healthcare consumers expect to share more sensitive demographic information with providers and health plans and may be less vigilant against these AI-driven social engineering schemes. 

Turning the tables on cybercriminals, AI can be used to protect against fraud by leveraging the same kinds of tools! GenAI and predictive analytics are AI-powered tools used to identify emerging threats and schemes against consumers and organizations. Having knowledge of emerging AI attack methods allows proactive cybersecurity strategies to be developed and deployed.    

Aging Infrastructure and the Need for Digital Touchpoints 

Consumer demand for digital healthcare access is fueling the growth of new healthcare mobile apps, websites, and call centers. However, many healthcare organizations have been slow to adopt the security needed to protect these digital touchpoints. In a 2023 survey⁸, 75% of respondents in the healthcare care industry report their organizations were placing a high priority on investing in digital technology, but lacked resources or planning in that area.  

The good news: There’s help. Sophisticated identity verification vendors stay one step ahead of emerging cybercriminals with a proactive approach. LexisNexis® Risk Solutions works with 84% of Fortune 500 companies to secure interactions and enhance digital experiences. With options like customizable identity verification, multi-layered defense intelligence profiling, and multi-factor authentication, solutions exist to combat healthcare’s toughest cybersecurity challenges.  

The balance of consumer experience and security can be difficult to achieve in a changing threat landscape.  Find out how LexisNexis Risk Solutions can help with the identity verification process. 

References 

1.  https://www.dni.gov/files/CTIIC/documents/products/Ransomware_Attacks_Surge_in_2023.pdfed 
2. https://industrialcyber.co/medical/cpr-data-reports-32-rise-this-year-as-global-healthcare-sector-faces-surge-in-cyberattacks/ 
3. https://www.hipaajournal.com/cost-healthcare-data-breach-2024/ 
4. https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/health/leaders-make-recent-digital-health-gains-last 
5. https://www.rxnt.com/usa-consumers-healthcare-professionals-at-odds-healthcare-technology-rxnt-study/ 
6. Healthcare DataWake podcast: https://risk.lexisnexis.com/insights-resources/podcast/healthcare-podcast 
7. https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/sanfrancisco/news/fbi-warns-of-increasing-threat-of-cyber-criminals-utilizing-artificial-intelligence 
8. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/digital-transformation-health-systems-investment-priorities