HHS OCR report · 2018
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Massachusetts
- Individuals affected
- 861
- Submission date
- Sep 7, 2018
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, inadvertently left the clinic door unlocked after hours and staff discovered a guest of the adjacent shelter sleeping in an exam room the following morning. There was no evidence that the guest accessed protected health information (PHI); however, the PHI of approximately 861 individuals was stored in the clinic, including demographic and clinical information. As a result of OCR’s investigation, the CE updated a relevant ...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 861 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Sep 7, 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 Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program 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 Health Care for the Homeless Program.