HHS OCR report ยท 2021
Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- California
- Individuals affected
- 18,968
- Submission date
- Sep 13, 2021
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, the covered entity (CE), reported that it was the victim of a ransomware attack that compromised the protected health information (PHI) of 18,968 individuals. The PHI involved included names, addresses, dates of birth, and diagnoses. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, the media, and provided substitute notice. In response to the breach, the CE strengthened its administrative and technical safeguards and retrained its staff. OCR provided technical a...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 18,968 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Sep 13, 2021.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Hacking/IT Incident, with the breached information located in: Network Server.
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 Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation 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 Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation.