In December 2016, the National Governors Association (NGA) released a report calling for improvements in the exchange of clinical information among healthcare providers in different states. Current conflicting and restrictive state laws, in addition to market barriers, have resulted in incomplete or delayed diagnosis and/or treatment for patients.

David Bailey, vice president of consulting services at Clearwater, a firm focused on cybersecurity in healthcare, told Fierce in an interview that the incident highlighted challenges in healthcare beyond fending off digital threats, as organizations grappled with a key service taken offline.