HHS OCR report ยท 2021
Pottawatomie County Health Department data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Pottawatomie County Health Department
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Kansas
- Individuals affected
- 6,000
- Submission date
- Oct 30, 2021
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Pottawatomie County Health Department, reported that it was the victim of a ransomware attack affecting the protected health information (PHI) of 6,000 individuals. The PHI involved included names, addresses, telephone numbers, diagnoses, health insurance information, and other treatment information. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, the media, and provided substitute notice. In its mitigation efforts, the CE implemented new technical safeguards and revised i...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Pottawatomie County Health Department data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 6,000 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Oct 30, 2021.
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 Pottawatomie County Health Department 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 Pottawatomie County Health Department.