MERIDIAN, Idaho — For nearly a full month, the out-of-pocket copay has been the only source of revenue for Molly and Me Counseling - a play therapy clinic operating in three Boise metro locations that helps children process feelings and emotions.
These days, Molly Gratton's taking extra time to process her own.
"There's a part of me that's been living the last couple of weeks, burying my head a little bit in the sand, knowing 'Okay, we're good for a little bit," Gratton said. "A couple of months, and then I'd have to be making some serious decisions."
Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, suffered a cyberattack. Their billing system between healthcare providers and insurance companies is completely shut down, according to Idaho Hospital Association spokesperson Greg Morrison.
Gratton's one of many impacted.
"I didn't even know about what had happened. And my biller contacted me and said, we have a problem," Gratton said. "So, all of a sudden, we're two weeks into this crisis. And I look at my bank statement and think, Kate next week's payroll, we're going to be dipping way down in our account."
Insurance coverage accounts for 85% of bill payments to Molly and Me Counseling. She considers herself lucky, however. Her business model has built a rainy-day fund for these moments; she knows that's not always the case.
"I was terrified for other people. I have friends that are out in private practice and others run other businesses, and I worry for them because this is a serious issue," Gratton said.
The cyberattack is impacting rural hospitals most out of the IHA members, according to Morrison. The length of a cyberattack has no rhyme or reason, according to Morrison.
"It just depends on the scope and breadth of the attack," Morrison said. "I don't know that it gets easier with time. But we're learning more and being able to adapt."
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