HHS OCR report · 2016
Hawai‘i Medical Service Association data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Hawai‘i Medical Service Association
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- Hawaii
- Individuals affected
- 10,179
- Submission date
- Jan 15, 2016
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
Between April and November 2015, the covered entity (CE), Hawai'i Medical Service Association, mistakenly sent care management letters to incorrect addresses, affecting approximately 10,179 patients’ protected health information (PHI). The types of PHI involved in the breach included names and the implied suggestion that individuals may have certain medical conditions. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the media. Following the breach, the CE updated its ...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Hawai‘i Medical Service Association data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 10,179 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jan 15, 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 Hawai‘i Medical Service Association 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 Hawai‘i Medical Service Association.