UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH)

Ascension warns of suspected cyberattack; clinical operations disrupted

Hospital operator Ascension reported disruptions to its clinical operations on Wednesday due to a suspected cybersecurity incident and advised business partners to temporarily disconnect from its systems. Earlier this year, UnitedHealth, the largest U.S. health insurer, had reported a cyberattack at its technology unit - one of the worst hacks to hit American healthcare - that caused widespread disruptions in payments to doctors and health facilities. "Out of an abundance of caution we are recommending that business partners temporarily suspend the connection to the Ascension environment," the healthcare network said in a statement.