HHS OCR report ยท 2020
Joslin Diabetes Center data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Joslin Diabetes Center
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Massachusetts
- Individuals affected
- 71,160
- Submission date
- Sep 14, 2020
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Joslin Diabetes Center, reported that its business associate experienced a ransomware attack affecting the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of approximately 71,160 individuals. The ePHI involved included names, addresses, email addresses, gender, dates of birth, and treatment information. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, the media, and provided substitute notice.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Joslin Diabetes Center data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 71,160 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Sep 14, 2020.
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 Joslin Diabetes Center 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 Joslin Diabetes Center.