Hacked to Pieces? The Effects of Ransomware Attacks on Hospitals and Patients

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Neprash, Hannah; McGlave, Claire; Nikpay, Sayeh
• 署名单位: University of Minnesota System; University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-ECONOMIC POLICY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7731
• DOI: 10.1257/pol.20240594
• 发表日期: 2026
• 关键词: HEALTH RECORD ADOPTION; regional-variations; US HOSPITALS; QUALITY; RISK

摘要

As cybercriminals increasingly target health care, hospitals face the growing threat of ransomware attacks. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that prevents users from accessing electronic systems and demands a ransom to restore access. We create and link a database of hospital ransomware attacks to Medicare claims data. We quantify the effects of ransomware attacks on hospital operations and patient outcomes. Ransomware attacks decrease hospital volume by 17-24 percent during the initial attack week, with recovery occurring within 3 weeks. Among patients already admitted to the hospital when a ransomware attack begins, in-hospital mortality increases by 34-38 percent. (JEL D83, I12, I13, K42)