HHS OCR report · 2018
VA Palo Alto Health Care System data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- California
- Individuals affected
- 1,600
- Submission date
- Mar 26, 2018
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The VA Palo Alto Health Care System, a Veteran’s Affairs facility and covered entity (CE), reported a breach incident affecting 1,600 individuals in December 2017. During a mass mailing to recruit for a research study, the research study worker used an electronic mail merge and mixed up names and addresses on mailed postcards. The postcards contained protected health information (PHI), including clinical and demographic information. The VA provided breach notification to individuals, HHS, an...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the VA Palo Alto Health Care System data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,600 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Mar 26, 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: 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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto Health Care System.