HHS OCR report · 2013
Jeff Spiegel data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Jeff Spiegel
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Massachusetts
- Individuals affected
- 832
- Submission date
- Dec 23, 2013
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
Dr. Jeffrey Spiegel’s practice, the covered entity (CE), mistakenly sent a promotional email to approximately 500 patients with an attachment that included the email addresses of 832 patients. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the media. Following the breach, the CE instituted a new procedure that requires two employees to proof promotional emails prior to sending. OCR obtained assurances that corrective actions listed above were completed.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Jeff Spiegel data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 832 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Dec 23, 2013.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, 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 Jeff Spiegel 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 Jeff Spiegel.