HHS OCR report · 2016
Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- California
- Individuals affected
- 25,000
- Submission date
- Sep 2, 2016
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency, reported a breach of unsecured PHI when a break-in occurred at the CE’s storage area. The CE initially reported that the breach affected approximately 25,000 individuals. However, an internal investigation, conducted with law enforcement assistance, revealed later that no breach had occurred because the break-in did not affect the paper records. OCR provided technical assistance to the CE. The CE implemented additional physi...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 25,000 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Sep 2, 2016.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, with the breached information located in: Paper/Films.
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 Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency 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 Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency.