HHS OCR report ยท 2019
The Guidance Center data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- The Guidance Center
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- California
- Individuals affected
- 1,189
- Submission date
- Oct 28, 2019
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), The Guidance Center, reported that a former employee impermissibly accessed numerous email accounts containing the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of 1,189 individuals. The ePHI involved included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, claims information, diagnoses, and other treatment information. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, and the media. In its mitigation efforts, the CE implemented additional administrative, techn...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the The Guidance Center data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,189 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Oct 28, 2019.
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 The Guidance Center 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 The Guidance Center.