HHS OCR report · 2018
Veterans Health Administration data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Veterans Health Administration
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- District of Columbia
- Individuals affected
- 19,254
- Submission date
- Nov 6, 2018
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
On August 8, 2018, and September 4, 2018, the covered entity's (CE’s) business associate (BA), Xerox Corporation, erroneously printed appointment reminder cards for patients that were mailed to another patient. The two incidents affected a total of 19,254 individuals and included demographic and clinical information. The CE/BA provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the media. To protect against any other printing misalignment incident, the BA instituted additional p...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by Veterans Health Administration
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration | DC | Healthcare Provider | 1,847 | Jan 13, 2025 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| Veterans Health Administration | DC | Healthcare Provider | 2,302 | Dec 3, 2024 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
| Veterans Health Administration | DC | Healthcare Provider | 46,677 | Jan 30, 2024 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| Veterans Health Administration | DC | Healthcare Provider | 2,380 | Jan 5, 2024 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| Veterans Health Administration | DC | Healthcare Provider | 44,308 | Sep 14, 2020 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Veterans Health Administration data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 19,254 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Nov 6, 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 Veterans Health Administration 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 Veterans Health Administration.