Health Law

Highmark Reports Breach of 3700 Customer Records

By William Maruca

Chalk this one up to a flimsy envelope. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield has reported that approximately 3700 of its customers' personal data was lost as a result of a torn and damaged envelope sent to an employer containing names and social security numbers.  The insurer is offering a year's free credit monitoring service to affected individuals.   Highmark is also complying with the HITECH Act's breach notification rules, including notifying media, since the breach involved more than 500 people in one state.  See Highmark tells customers personal information lost

Lesson: Use stronger envelopes when mailing sensitive data.  Sometimes data protection is that simple.

Full post as published by HIPAA Health Law & Technology on February 05, 2010 (boomark / email).