March 10 (Reuters) - Officials from the U.S. government

asked UnitedHealth Group ( UNH ) to expedite payments to

healthcare providers in an open letter on Sunday, after a hack

of the insurer's Change Healthcare tech unit crippled medical

claims and payments.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services urged UnitedHealth ( UNH )

to take "responsibility to ensure no provider is

compromised by their cash flow challenges stemming from this

cyberattack on Change Healthcare."

While the letter specifically named UnitedHealth ( UNH ) and

addressed the recent hack, it also asked other companies in the

industry to help.

"We call on UHG, other insurance companies, clearinghouses,

and health care entities to take additional actions to mitigate

the harms this attack places on patients and providers,

particularly our safety net providers," the letter said.

UnitedHealth ( UNH ) did not immediately respond to a request for

comment.

The U.S. government said last Tuesday it would accelerate

Medicare and Medicaid payments to some hospitals hurt by the

cyber attack on Change Healthcare late last month.

The cyberattack on Change, disclosed on Feb.21, was

perpetrated by hackers who identified themselves as the

"Blackcat" ransomware group and has had a knock-on effect on

players across the U.S. healthcare system.

Disruptions triggered by the attack have impacted electronic

pharmacy refills and insurance transactions.

UnitedHealth ( UNH ) has said it expects to restore disrupted

services for medical claims and payments platforms by mid-March.

(Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru)