HHS OCR report ยท 2018
California Physicians Service d/b/a Blue Shield of California data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- California Physicians Service d/b/a Blue Shield of California
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- California
- Individuals affected
- 1,717
- Submission date
- Apr 13, 2018
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), California Physicians Service d/b/a Blue Shield of California, which is a health plan provider, reported that an employee emailed a third-party insurance broker without authorization. The breach affected 1,717 individuals and the types of protected health information (PHI) included names, addresses, telephone numbers, subscriber identification numbers and Medicare Advantage plan names. The CE provided breach notification to individuals, HHS, and the media. OCR obtaine...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the California Physicians Service d/b/a Blue Shield of California data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,717 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Apr 13, 2018.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, 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 California Physicians Service d/b/a Blue Shield of California 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 California Physicians Service d/b/a Blue Shield of California.