Additionally, tele-health platforms present new challenges for the protection of an individual’s medical information.  More than 20 million Americans now benefit from some manner of remote health care treatment, and many factors drive the need for telemedicine care, serving people living in isolated or rural areas of the country that may not have ready access to receive needed healthcare services.

In the event of a cyber breach, the monetary costs involved with remediation of the network, notification expenses and any damages incurred by a resident, especially where the facility has been deemed negligent in safeguarding medical records, can be staggering.  Long Term Care providers should have a cyber risk response plan in place.  They should carry cyber liability insurance that provides first and third-party coverage for the loss of or damage to digital data.

Making sure facility-wide incident liability coverage is in place that protects against a potential network security and privacy breach can be a daunting undertaking, and it is important for providers to obtain a cyber liability policy that coordinates with their healthcare professional and general liability policy.