A ransomware group has claimed responsibility for breaching a large hospital network on the U.S. East Coast, according to Reuters. The attackers say they encrypted systems used by the chain and are demanding payment in cryptocurrency.

If confirmed, the incident could disrupt patient care, scheduling, billing, and access to medical records across multiple facilities. Hospital systems remain attractive targets for cybercriminals because downtime can affect critical operations and raise the pressure to pay quickly.

Reuters reported that the claim comes from a known ransomware gang, but the full extent of the intrusion has not been independently verified. The hospital network has not publicly detailed the scope of the breach or whether patient data was accessed.

The case adds to growing concern over attacks on health care infrastructure, where cyber incidents can have direct consequences for civilians who depend on uninterrupted treatment and secure records.