HHS OCR report · 2016
Black Hawk College data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Black Hawk College
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- Illinois
- Individuals affected
- 1,000
- Submission date
- Dec 8, 2016
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
A computer server for the covered entity’s (CE) reinsurer was infected with ransomware from March 12 to August 8, 2016, making protected health information (PHI) accessible. The PHI included the names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and clinical data pertaining to approximately 1,000 individuals. The CE submitted a breach report to HHS out of caution even though the reinsurer was not a business associate (BA). The CE provided evidence that a BA was not necessary and the...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Black Hawk College data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,000 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Dec 8, 2016.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Hacking/IT Incident, with the breached information located in: Network Server.
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 Black Hawk College 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 Black Hawk College.