UnitedHealth hack looms over first-quarter earnings report

UnitedHealth is expected to record higher medical costs in its first earnings report since a cyberattack disrupted its technology systems including those that manage prescription and medical claims, analysts said. The attack, disclosed on Feb. 21, affected hospitals, clinicians, and pharmacies nationwide. UnitedHealth has advanced billions of dollars in reimbursements through loans to affected healthcare providers and suspended prior authorization of medical services for some government-backed insurance plans for quicker processing.