Alaska Dental Society News & Updates
Colorado Ransomware Attack Affects About 100 Dental Practices
The ADA News (12/17, Versaci) reports that on Nov. 25, a “ransomware attack against a Colorado information technology company” affected “about 100 dental practices” in several states, “leaving them without access to their patient records, schedules and more.” The attack follows a similar incident in August that affected hundreds of dental practices. Gary Salman, CEO of Black Talon Security, says dentists can take several steps to help protect their practices from ransomware that originates at their IT service provider. For instance, “dentists need to ask specific questions of the IT companies they hire, including whether the company has a third-party cybersecurity company evaluate the security of its infrastructure so that its data breach does not become the dentists’ data breach, he said.”
The ADA Center for Professional Success also advises that dentists train staff on basic data security, back up data regularly and keep a copy off-site, be wary of attachments and web links included with suspicious emails, and maintain cyber defenses such as anti-virus and anti-malware software. To learn more, visit Success. ADA.org.
The ADA offers a continuing education course related to ransomware as well at ebusiness. ADA.org.
The Colorado Dental Association also plans to launch a full educational campaign around cybersecurity in 2020.
State restores Medicaid adult dental coverage, reversing course after veto by Gov. Dunleavy
Three months after the state of Alaska ended preventive dental care for adults on Medicaid, state officials are reviving the program.
“It is a major change in policy, there’s no doubt about that,” said Jared Kosin, executive director of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association.
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