HHS OCR report · 2020
Methodist Hospital of Southern California data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Methodist Hospital of Southern California
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- California
- Individuals affected
- 39,881
- Submission date
- Nov 4, 2020
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Methodist Hospital of Southern California, reported that its business associate experienced a ransomware attack affecting the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of approximately 39,881individuals. The ePHI involved included names, addresses, dates of birth, and treatment information. This breach involved the CE’s medical foundation, which is not subject to the HIPAA Rules.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Methodist Hospital of Southern California data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 39,881 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Nov 4, 2020.
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 Methodist Hospital of Southern 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 Methodist Hospital of Southern California.