HHS OCR report ยท 2021
VA Northern California Health Care System data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- VA Northern California Health Care System
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- California
- Individuals affected
- 645
- Submission date
- Mar 24, 2021
- 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), VA Northern California Health Care System, reported that an employee left a document containing the protected health information (PHI) of 645 individuals in a public space. The PHI involved included names, Social Security numbers, and treatment information. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, the media, and provided complimentary identity and credit monitoring services to all affected individuals. Following the breach, the CE retrained its workforce members on...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the VA Northern California Health Care System data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 645 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Mar 24, 2021.
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 VA Northern California Health Care System 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 VA Northern California Health Care System.