LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Two major Michigan hospital systems are dealing with serious fallout from cyberattacks, and one state lawmaker is calling for increased penalties from the Legislature on those who carry out these attacks.

State Rep. Donni Steele (R-Orion Township) called for legislative action to address ransomware attacks after hackers targeted McLaren Health Care and Ascension. McLaren manages 13 hospitals statewide and is combating a week-long criminal cyberattack that is severely disrupting patient services.

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Ascension operates several hospitals in southeast Michigan and faced a similar cyberattack earlier this year. That attack spanned two months before the hospital network could  resume normal operations. Its parent company paid a $22 million ransom.

“It’s unacceptable that criminal gangs who maintain a stranglehold over health care services for our communities face only five years in prison if they’re caught,” said Steele. “These attacks disrupt medical treatment for people in need. No cancer patient or expecting mother should have to worry about cyber criminals when seeking care at a local hospital.”

Steele wants to increase the penalties for waging ransomware attacks. Currently, hacking into a computer system in Michigan is punishable by up to five years in prison, and the penalty for possessing ransomware is a maximum of three years in prison.

In addition, Rep. Steele wants to improve partnerships with local law enforcement to better respond to ransomware.

“Clearly, this threat is not going away,” Steele said. This is the second devastating attack this year alone.  We need to guarantee police have whatever resources they need to protect our health care system.”