HHS OCR report ยท 2024
Merchants Benefit Administration data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Merchants Benefit Administration
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- Arizona
- Individuals affected
- 767
- Submission date
- Apr 30, 2024
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Merchants Benefit Administration, reported that three employees were the subjects of an email phishing attack that affected the protected health information (PHI) of 767 individuals. The PHI involved included names, Social Security numbers, and financial information. The CE notified HHS and affected individuals. In response to the breach the CE improved its technical and administrative safeguards. OCR provided technical assistance to the CE.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Merchants Benefit Administration data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 767 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Apr 30, 2024.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Hacking/IT Incident, with the breached information located in: Email.
Is the investigation still open?
No. The report is in the OCR portal archive, which holds reports where OCR has closed its review.
Is a breach notice letter from Merchants Benefit Administration legitimate?
This site cannot verify letters. Check the sender against the organisation's official website and the HHS OCR breach portal, and avoid calling numbers or clicking links only listed in an unexpected message. See our guide on what to do after a data breach notice.
Source: HHS OCR Breach Portal, OCR export October 2026. Network USA is not affiliated with HHS or Merchants Benefit Administration.