Dialysis provider DaVita, with 16 Long Island centers, probing ransomware attack
Northwell-affiliated dialysis service provider DaVita Inc. operates a dialysis center in Hicksville, seen here on Wednesday. Credit: Newsday/Kendall Rodriguez
DaVita Inc., a dialysis provider which partners with Northwell Health, is investigating a ransomware cyberattack that affected some of the company's operations, the health care provider said Wednesday.
DaVita, which has 16 locations across Long Island, said in a statement issued to Newsday it was "currently experiencing a cyber incident that has impacted certain systems in our network." The company added that "it activated backup systems and manual processes to ensure there's no disruption to patient care.”
“Our teams, along with external cybersecurity experts, are actively investigating this matter and working to restore systems as quickly as possible,” the company said.
In a report DaVita filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Monday, the company reported that it “became aware of a ransomware incident that has encrypted certain elements of our network.”
DaVita said in its SEC filing it does not know how long it will take to fix the issue.
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, DaVita has more than 2,600 outpatient dialysis centers in 46 states and Washington, D.C., as well as facilities in 13 other countries, according to corporate filings. The company, which reported total revenue of $12.8 billion in 2024, also has contracts to provide dialysis services to approximately 760 hospitals nationwide.
Locally, the company has locations across the island, including in Huntington Station, Hicksville and Garden City.
A spokeswoman with the company said patients on Long Island would not have their appointments impacted by the attack.
The company did not provide additional details about what parts of its operations were impacted by the ransomware attack or if customer data was involved.
In 2016, Northwell, New York State's largest private employer, formed a joint venture with a unit of DaVita to open dialysis centers and provide other kidney care treatment in Queens and Long Island, Newsday previously reported.
New York State health officials said Wednesday they were aware of the cyber intrusion.
“We are aware of a reported ransomware attack targeting DaVita and impacting some of the provider’s operations,” Cadence Acquaviva, spokeswoman for the state Health Department said in a statement to Newsday.
“The department is monitoring the situation and actively engaged with DaVita to provide necessary assistance and guidance,” she said.
In 2020 alone, Stony Brook University Hospital and Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside were targeted by hackers, resulting in the shutdown of some systems and compromised patient data. In 2022, Suffolk County government sustained a cyberattack attack that impacted operations for months, shutting down its main website, exposing personal information of 500,000 people, and costing the county $25 million in recovery costs.
Local cybersecurity expert Steve Morgan, founder of Northport-based Cybersecurity Ventures, a cybersecurity market researcher, said ransomware attacks are on the rise. In recent years, Long Island businesses, health care providers, and government institutions have fallen victim to ransomware or other cyberattacks.
Ransomware is a type of software criminals use to encrypt an organization’s access to their own data, Morgan said in an email. In order for victims to receive a “decryption key” that would allow them to access their data again, cybercriminals demand a ransom in exchange.
“Most companies don't pay the ransom,” Morgan said. “It only encourages the cybercriminals.”
Despite that, ransomware attacks — the fastest growing type of cybercrime, Morgan said — is predicted to cost victims around $275 billion a year by 2031, up from $57 billion in 2025, according to Cybersecurity Ventures.
DaVita has more than 55,000 employees in the U.S. and serves over 200,000 dialysis patients, according to its website. The company specializes in chronic kidney failure, end-stage renal disease, and transplant services.
DaVita Inc., a dialysis provider which partners with Northwell Health, is investigating a ransomware cyberattack that affected some of the company's operations, the health care provider said Wednesday.
DaVita, which has 16 locations across Long Island, said in a statement issued to Newsday it was "currently experiencing a cyber incident that has impacted certain systems in our network." The company added that "it activated backup systems and manual processes to ensure there's no disruption to patient care.”
“Our teams, along with external cybersecurity experts, are actively investigating this matter and working to restore systems as quickly as possible,” the company said.
In a report DaVita filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Monday, the company reported that it “became aware of a ransomware incident that has encrypted certain elements of our network.”
DaVita said in its SEC filing it does not know how long it will take to fix the issue.
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, DaVita has more than 2,600 outpatient dialysis centers in 46 states and Washington, D.C., as well as facilities in 13 other countries, according to corporate filings. The company, which reported total revenue of $12.8 billion in 2024, also has contracts to provide dialysis services to approximately 760 hospitals nationwide.
Locally, the company has locations across the island, including in Huntington Station, Hicksville and Garden City.
A spokeswoman with the company said patients on Long Island would not have their appointments impacted by the attack.
The company did not provide additional details about what parts of its operations were impacted by the ransomware attack or if customer data was involved.
In 2016, Northwell, New York State's largest private employer, formed a joint venture with a unit of DaVita to open dialysis centers and provide other kidney care treatment in Queens and Long Island, Newsday previously reported.
New York State health officials said Wednesday they were aware of the cyber intrusion.
“We are aware of a reported ransomware attack targeting DaVita and impacting some of the provider’s operations,” Cadence Acquaviva, spokeswoman for the state Health Department said in a statement to Newsday.
“The department is monitoring the situation and actively engaged with DaVita to provide necessary assistance and guidance,” she said.
In 2020 alone, Stony Brook University Hospital and Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside were targeted by hackers, resulting in the shutdown of some systems and compromised patient data. In 2022, Suffolk County government sustained a cyberattack attack that impacted operations for months, shutting down its main website, exposing personal information of 500,000 people, and costing the county $25 million in recovery costs.
Local cybersecurity expert Steve Morgan, founder of Northport-based Cybersecurity Ventures, a cybersecurity market researcher, said ransomware attacks are on the rise. In recent years, Long Island businesses, health care providers, and government institutions have fallen victim to ransomware or other cyberattacks.
Ransomware is a type of software criminals use to encrypt an organization’s access to their own data, Morgan said in an email. In order for victims to receive a “decryption key” that would allow them to access their data again, cybercriminals demand a ransom in exchange.
“Most companies don't pay the ransom,” Morgan said. “It only encourages the cybercriminals.”
Despite that, ransomware attacks — the fastest growing type of cybercrime, Morgan said — is predicted to cost victims around $275 billion a year by 2031, up from $57 billion in 2025, according to Cybersecurity Ventures.
DaVita has more than 55,000 employees in the U.S. and serves over 200,000 dialysis patients, according to its website. The company specializes in chronic kidney failure, end-stage renal disease, and transplant services.
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