HHS OCR report · 2021
Boston Children’s Hospital data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Boston Children’s Hospital
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Massachusetts
- Individuals affected
- 506
- Submission date
- Apr 29, 2021
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Boston Children’s Hospital, reported that an employee was the victim of an email phishing scheme that affected the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of 506 individuals. The ePHI involved included names, dates of birth, addresses, diagnoses, lab results, and health insurance information. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, and provided complimentary identity theft and fraud prevention services. In its mitigation efforts, the CE strengthened its a...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Boston Children’s Hospital data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 506 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Apr 29, 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: Email.
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 Boston Children’s Hospital 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 Boston Children’s Hospital.